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IHmbersitp  ofj^ottl)  Carolina 


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This  BOOK  may  be  kept  out  TWO 
WEEKS  ONLY,  and  is  subject  to  a  fine 
of  FIVE  CENTS  a  day  thereafter.  It  was 
taken  out  on  the  day  indicated  below: 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 

lllllllllill 

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<:  s  T3    .    -;     .     'S 


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I 


THE 


GIRL'S  WEEK-DAY  BOOK 


PUBLISHED   BY 


THE  LONDON  RELIGIOUS  TRACT  SOCIETY. 


V>Qr-»-\V.  *J) 


4 


.(18  351...--' 


That  our  Daughters  maylje  as  corner-stones,  polished  after  the 
similitude  of  a  palace."  —  Psalm  cxliv.  12- 


NEW-Y  OR  K.- 
william   JACKSON,  53   CEDAR-STREET 


M  DCCC  xxxvi. 


w 


G.  F.  Hopkins  &  Son,  Printers. 


t 


CONTENTS, 


INTRODUCTORY  ADDRESS.  — Page  1. 

The  Writer.  —  Her  young  Friends.  —  Occasion  of  the  Book.  — 
Importance  of  Females.  —  Prayer. 

CHAPTER  I.  — Page  7. 

The  Writer's  Birth-place.  —  Family  Afflictions.  —  Chastisement. 

—  Pleasures  of  Gayety.  —  A  Journey.  —  Newcastle  Staircase. 

—  Nurse's  Ditties.  —  See-saw.  —  An"  Artful  Servant. — Public 
Worship.  —  Dr.  Earle.  —  Darkness  and  Light.  —  Dr.  Watts's 
Songs.  —  The  Drowning  Fly.  —  Illness.  —  Respect  for  Minis- 
ters.—  Infant  Criticism. — Lilliputian  Candles. — Printing. — 
An  Experiment.  —  A  Distinction.  —  Grateful  Recollections. 

CHAPTER  II.  —  Page  29. 

One  Thing  at  a  Time. — Working  Parties.  —  Society  and  Soli- 
tude.—  An  only  Child.  —  Music.  —  Delicate  Health.  —  Over 
Indulgence.  —  School  Regularity.  —  Waste.  —  Profanity.  — 
Gluttony. — Nick-names.  —  Trifling  with  the  words  of  Scrip- 
ture.—A  Foolish  Wish.  —  David  Dale. —  The  Scotch  Clergy- 
man. —  Unjust  Suspicions.  —  The  Bed  of  Tulips.  —  Striped 
Grass.  —  The  Bachelor's  Present. — The  Universal  Spelling 
Book.  —  The  Twelve  Wonders.  —  Six  Years  Old.  —  Dolls.  — 
Meddling  Punished. 

CHAPTER  III.— Page  56. 

Samplers  and  Copy-books.  —  Our  Works  outlive  us.  —  Sentiments 
and  Wishes  about  Life  and  Death.  —  Going  to  School. 

CHAPTER  IV  —Page  70. 

School  Anecdotes.  —  My  Governess.  —  Dr.  Watts.  —  School 
Plays. — Skipping. — Exercise.  —  Birds,  Beasts,  and  Fishes. 

—  The  Dolphin. — The  Lion. — Goose  and  Swan.  —  Dog. — 
My  Lady's  Toilet.  —  Invention. 


P 


* 


IV  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  V.— Page  92. 

School  Anecdotes  continued.  —  Conversing  in  French.  — "Writing 
from  Dictation.  —  Precision.  —  Expletives.  —  Questions  at  the 
Dinner  Table.  —  The  Ostrich. — Precious  Possessions. — Mr. 
B.,  the  Writing  Master.  —  Exercises.  —  Letters.  —  Habits.  — 
Punishments.  —  The  Lying  Apron. 

CHAPTER  VI.  —  Page  111. 

School  Anecdotes  continued.  —  A  Parcel  from  Home.  —  A  Day 
out.  —  The  Manor  House.  —  The  Parsonage.  —  A  Happy 
Death.  — Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  —  Death  of  Mr.  H.  — Cuiing  Dis- 
likes.—  Unjust  Suspicion.  —  The  Farm-house  Visit. — Wan- 
sted.  —  Superstition.  —  Disappointment  overruled.  —  Election- 
eering. —  Death  of  School-fellows.  —  Breaking  up.  —  Going 
Home. 

CHAPTER  VII.  — Page  153. 

Hints  and  Exemplifications.  —  Importance  of  the  Period  of  Youth 
and  Education.—  Application. —  Smattering.  —  Curmudgeon.  — 
Anon,  and  Ibid.  —  Correcting  Mistakes.  —  Canvass  Work. — 
Circumspection.  —  Possessing  a  Watch.  —  Perseverance.  — 
Churning  Butter.  — The  Nut  Trees.  — Fancy  Work.  —  Story  of 
Matilda  and  Martha.  —  Useless  Labour.  —  Aunt  Rennie.  —  My 
Sister's  Cap.  —  Acquiring  a  Library.  —  Fictitious  Books.  —  Con- 
scientious Regard  to  Truth.  —  Lavish  Supply  of  Money.  — Sto- 
ry of  Miss  J.  —  Prudent  Disposal  of  Property.  —  Value  of  Arith- 
metic.—  The  Two  Cousins.  —  Accumulation.  —  The  Wander- 
ing Sow.  —  The  Poplar  Trees.  —  Chinese  Proverb.  —  Instability 
of  Worldly  Possessions.  —  Story  of  the  Girl  with  a  Hundred 
Frocks.  —  Charles  Bailey.  — The  Young  Widow.  —  The  Teach- 
er. —  Ambition  and  Contentment.  —  Compensative  Goodness 
of  God.  —  The  Maimed  Hand.  —  The  Blind  Woman.  —  Emu- 
lation and  Envy. — Taking  Places  in  Class.  —  Pride  of  Con- 
nexion.—  Curiosity  and  Tattling. 


CHAPTER  VIII.— Page  199. 

Dress  and  Admiration.  —  A  Conversation.  —  Respectful  Demean- 
our to  Parents  and  Aged  Persons.  —  Brothers  and  Sisters.  — 
Servants.  —  School  Friendships.  —  Letter  Writing.  — ■  Educa- 
tion at  Home.  —  Conduct  to  a  Governess.  —  Semblance  of  Vir- 
tues. —  Magnanimity  and  Meekness  Compatible.  —  Sensibility 
and  Gentleness  contrasted  with  Affectation.  —  Presence  of  Mind. 
—  Holy  Scripturess.  —  Study  of  Evidences.  —  Anecdote  of 
Hume.  —  Claims.  —  Religious  Impressions.  —  Do  not  Stifle  or 
Resist  them.  —  Do  not  Procrastinate.  —  Do  not  rest  in  mere 
Feeling.  —  Encouragement.  —  Consistency.  —  Persecution.  — 
Sunday-School  Teaching. — Education  finished. 


THE    GIRL'S   BOOK 


INTRODUCTORY  ADDRESS. 


MT  DEAR  YOUNG  LADIES  : 

When  a  book  is  put  into  your  hands,  you  very 
naturally  desire  to  know  something  of  the  writer,  and 
the  circumstances  in  which  it  originated.  Some  things, 
such  as  the  sentiments  of  the  writer,  will  be  best  gather- 
ed from  the  book  itself;  and  I  trust  to  your  discernment 
both  to  find  them  out,  and  to  judge  whether  they  are  cor- 
rect. You  may,  perhaps,  be  interested  in  knowing,  at  the 
outset,  that  the  book  is  written  by  a  lady,  because  you 
will  conclude  that  she  has  passed  through  scenes,  cir- 
cumstances, and  feelings,  something  like  your  own.  I 
will  farther  inform  you,  that  I  have  two  little  girls  of  my 
own,  who  frequently  bring  to  my  recollection  circum- 
stances which  I  might  otherwise  have  entirely  forgotten  : 
moreover,  that  I  feel  a  very  affectionate  interest  in  girls 
in  general,  and  often  wish  it  were  in  my  power  to  pro^ 
mote  their  improvement  and  happiness.  I  love  to  see 
girls  lively  and  cheerful ;  and  though  I  am  not  so  young 
myself,  as  I  was  five-and-twenty  years  ago,  I  can  smile 
at  the  innocent  mirth,  and  am  sometimes  called  upon  in 
a  party  of  young  folks  to  show  the  little  ones  a  cunning 
place  at  hide-and-seek,  and  to  puzzle  the  elder  girls  with 
riddles,  or  entertain  them  with  a  story  of  olden  times.  I 
am  pleased,  I  hope  not  proud,  to  believe  myself  a  favour- 
ite with  my  young  friends ;  for  they  are  often  contriving 

1 


2  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

to  show  me  some  little  kindness.  Among  them,  I  am 
well  supplied  with  pincushions,  netting-cases,  and  other 
fancy  articles.  When  I  have  a  set  of  shirts  in  hand,  one 
begs  to  stitch  the  collars  and  wristbands,  another  to  set 
on  the  gathers,  and  one  very  little  girl  assures  me  she  can 
hem  pocket-handkerchiefs  neatly,  if  I  will  but  try  her. 
Besides  which,  as  it  has  sometimes  happened,  that  when 
they  have  come  to  pay  me  a  visit,  I  have  been  suffering 
from  a  bad  head-ache,  one  of  the  elder  girls  has  sat  with 
me,  and  waited  upon  me  as  carefully  as  a  nurse,  and  the 
rest  have  amused  themselves  quietly  in  the  garden,  or 
with  books  and  pictures,  lest  any  romping  play  within 
doors  should  disturb  me.  I  have  sometimes  also  had 
the  pleasure  of  such  conversations  with  the  dear  young 
people,  as  led  me  to  hope  they  were  beginning  to  inquire 
after  God ;  and,  even  after  they  have  left  the  place  where 
I  live,  some  of  them  have  sent  me  very  kind  and  affec- 
tionate letters.  You  will  not,  therefore,  wonder  that  I 
love  them  dearly  ;  and  I  believe  there  is  no  love  lost  be- 
tween us. 

Sometimes  the  company  of  my  own  dear  girls,  or  their 
young  friends,  leads  me  to  think  of  the  faults  and  follies 
of  my  childhood,  and  to  warn  them  against  that  which 
injured  or  endangered  me.  Sometimes  I  am  led  to  think 
of  the  superior  advantages  of  girls  in  the  present  day,  to 
those  enjoyed  in  my  time ;  but  lest  this  should  dispose 
me  to  murmur,  I  reflect  with  gratitude  on  my  own  ad- 
vantages, compared  with  those  of  my  grandmother. 
Then  we  get  talking  upon  old  stories,  and  one  says, 
"  Do  tell  us  something  that  happened  when  you  were  a 
little  girl ;"  and  another,  "  Pray,  ma'am,  do  indulge  us 
with  a  sight  of  your  grandmother's  copy-book  and  sam- 
pler ;"  and  then  they  say  that  it  is  too  dark  to  read  or 


INTRODUCTORY     ADDRESS.  3 

work  ;  and  they  have  skipped  till  they  are  hot  and  tired ; 
and  nothing  would  be  so  delightful  as  another  story,  just 
till  the  candles  and  tea  things  come  in.  And  if  no  story 
presents  itself  to  my  recollection,  my  girls  are  always 
ready  to  prompt  me.  And  so  they  draw  me  on  from  one 
story  to  another;  and  the  conclusion  generally  is,  "  Well, 
it  really  ought  to  be  printed  in  a  book." 

Now  you  must  know,  that  last  Christmas  one  of  my 
sons  (for  I  have  sons  as  well  as  daughters)  was  present- 
ed with  an  elegant  little  volume,  called  "The  Boys' 
Week-day  Book."  After  looking  it  over,  one  of  my 
young  visiters  asked,  "  And  pray  is  there  a  ■  Girls' 
Week-day  Book1?'  —  if  not,  I  do  consider  it  a  great 
shame ;  —  we  have  as  much  right  to  be  cared  for  as  the 
boys  ;  we  may  be  of  as  much  consequence,  if  we  live  to 
grow  up  :  indeed,  I  heard  my  papa  say  that  he  thought, 
if  any  thing,  the  education  of  girls  was  of  more  impor- 
tance than  that  of  boys,  because  women  have  so  much 
to  do  in  teaching  their  children,  whether  boys  or  girls, 
while  they  are  little  :  he  said  he  had  never  known  an  in- 
stance of  a  great  and  good  man  who  had  a  weak  and  silly 
mother ;  and  that  if  the  girls  of  the  present  day  were  neg- 
lected, there  would  be  no  hope  of  a  generation  of  wise 
and  virtuous  men.  Now,  don't  you  think,  Mrs.  White, 
that  there  ought  to  be  a  girls'  book  as  well  as  a  boys'  1 " 

Before  I  could  deliberate  on  this  important  question, 
sufficiently  to  give  a  decided  answer,  another  young  voice 
inquired,  "  And  don't  you  think,  that  if  dear  Mrs.  White 
would  but  write  down  all  the  stories  about  herself,  when 
she  was  a  little  girl,  and  her  parents,  and  governesses, 
and  schoolfellows,  it  would  make  a  very  good  book  for 
girls  1 "  —  "  Yes,  that  I   do,"    responded  a  third ;  "  I 


4  THE    GIRL'S     BOOK. 

should  like  it  ten  times  better  than  wonderful  stories  of 
things  that  never  really  did  happen."  * 

"  But,  my  young  friends,"  I  suggested,  "  what  good 
would  result  from  it?  for  we  should  never  either  speak  or 
write  without  having  something  to  say  that  may  be  both 
interesting  and  profitable  to  those  who  hear  or  read." 

"  Very  true,  ma'am ;  but  what  can  be  more  pleasant 
and  instructive  than  to  know  that  grown  up  persons,  es- 
pecially those  we  love,  used  to  think  and  feel,  when  they 
were  children,  the  same  as  we  do  now?  — -and  how  they 
got  into  scrapes  when  they  did  wrong  ?  —  and  how  they 
were  cured  of  their  bad  habits  ?  —  and  to  hear  about  old- 
fashioned  people  and  ancient  customs  ?  Do,  dear  Mrs. 
White,  begin  writing  the  book  directly ;  will  you  be  so 
kind?" 

I  promised  to  give  the  subject  due  consideration,  and 
was  inclined  to  comply  with  the  request  of  my  young 
friends,  especially  as  I  remembered  that  nothiug  used  to 
entertain  me  so  much  as  when  my  dear  mother  would 
tell  me  some  of  her  "  auld  warld  stories,"  as  my  father 
used  to  call  them  ;  and  though  I  had  heard  them  over 
and  over  again,  I  never  grew  tired  of  them,  but  often 
used  to  moralize  over  them,  and  repeat  them  to  my  school- 
fellows. It  occurred  to  me,  therefore,  that  if  I  could  re- 
member the  substance  of  some  of  the  conversations  which 
I  have  already  alluded  to,  with  some  other  particulars  that 
might  occur  to  my  recollection,  it  might  not  only  be  in- 
teresting to  my  own  young  friends,  but,  if  published, 

♦Note  for  American  Girls.  —  It  is  much  more  common  in 
England  than  in  this  country,  for  parents  to  receive  a  young  lady 
into  the  family  to  take  charge  of  the  education  and  manners  of  the 
children.  Such  a  teacher,  as  well  as  one  at  school,  is  called  a 
governess. 


INTRODUCTORY     ADDRESS.  3 

might  be  the  means  of  amusing  and  instructing  many 
other  girls  of  the  same  age. 

On  attempting,  in  compliance  with  the  urgent  request 
of  my  young  friends,  to  put  together  these  pages,  I  feared 
but  little  interest  would  attach  to  what  I  had  to  say,  and 
more  than  once  was  almost  induced  to  abandon  the  de- 
sign ;  but  when  next  they  paid  me  a  visit,  the  first  ques- 
tion was,  "  And  how  does  the  book  get  on  V1  —  "  And 
I  hope  you  have  put  in  the  story  about  the  monument." 
"  And  pray,  ma'am,  don't  forget  the  story  about  Ann 
Hoys."  —  "  And  be  sure,  Emily,  you  remind  your  mam- 
ma of  the  thieves  breaking  into  her  school."  Thus  I 
was  urged  on,  from  step  to  step,  and  no  rest  allowed  me 
till  I  had  promised  that,  life  and  health  permitting,  next 
Christmas  I  should  have  the  pleasure  of  presenting  my 
young  female  friends  with  a  book,  similar  in  design  and 
execution  to  that  with  which,  last  Christmas,  their  bro- 
thers were  so  much  delighted.  There  was,  however, 
one  condition  which  I  urged  on  them  :  it  was,  that  they 
would  pray  for  a  blessing,  both  on  their  friend  in  writing, 
and  afterwards  on  themselves  in  reading  ;  for,  dear  young 
people,  if  this  book,  or  any  other  book  you  read,  becomes 
really  profitable  to  you,  it  must  be  through  the  influence 
of  the  Holy  Spirit,  who  alone  can  give  the  ability  to  in- 
struct, and  bestow  on  the  learner  a  willing,  tractable,  and 
obedient  heart.  "  If  any  man  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask 
of  God,  who  giveth  to  all  men  liberally,  and  upbraideth 
not."  —  Let  the  reader  think  of  this,  and  practise  it,  as 
she  reads  this  volume. 

Before  I  close  this  introductory  address,  I  must  just 

observe,  that  it  would  take  up  too  much  room  to  relate 

every  thing  in  the  form  of  conversation  with  my  young 

friends,  though  most  of  it  was  brought  to  my  recollection 

1* 


6  THE     GIRL'S     BOOK. 

by  one  or  other  of  them.     I  shall,  therefore,  simply  tell 
my  own  tale,  except  as  it  may  now  and  then  be  necessary 
to  introduce  it  with  the  remark  or  circumstance  which 
called  it  forth.     In  that  case  it  will  be  marked  with  the 
name  of  the  little  girl  who  occasioned  it.     My  own  girls 
are  Agnes  and  Emily.    Agnes  is  of  a  steady,  thoughtful 
turn ;  very  much  disposed  to  inquire  into  the  causes  and 
reasons  of  things.     She  is  seldom  much  elated  or  much 
depressed  in  spirits.      Emily  is  of  a  more  sentimental 
cast.      No  girl  in  the  world  laughs  more  heartily  at  an 
innocent  joke  ;  and  no  girl  feels  more  keenly  any  afflic- 
tion that  befalls  those  she  loves.     She  sometimes  need- 
lessly distresses  herself  about  trifling  or  unavoidable  cir- 
cumstances ;  such  as  the  death  of  a  cat  that  had  attained 
the  good  old  age  of  twenty-three  years,  or  the  breaking 
an  apple-tree  by  the  late  high  wind,  which  was  planted 
the  day  her  eldest  brother  was  born.    However,  they  are 
both  of  them  dear,  good,  affectionate  girls.     My  other 
young  friends  I  shall  call  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Harriet, 
Ann,  Ruth,  Eleanor,  Maria,  Jane,  Sophia,  and  Rose. 
Some  of  these  girls  are  placed  at  a  school  where  there 
is  great  attention  paid  to  the  cultivation  of  their  minds 
and  the  regulation  of  their  conduct,  as  well  as  to  the  out- 
ward branches  of  accomplishment.     The  rest  of  my 
young  friends  are  educated  at  home;  under  a  judicious 
mother,  or  an  experienced  and  conscientious  governess. 
Their  ages  vary  from  six  to  sixteen.     The  penetration 
of  my  young  readers  will  lead  them  to  discover  from  the 
Eemarks  of  each  of  my  visiters,  as  much  as  is  necessary 
of  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  each. 
I  remain, 
The  reader's  affectionate  friend 
And  well-wisher, 

DOROTHY  WHITE. 


CHAPTER  I. 


THE    WRITER'S    BIRTH-PLACE  .—  FAMILY    AFFLICTIONS.  —  CHASTISEMENT.  — 

PLEASURES  OF  GAYETY. — A  JOURNEY. NEWCASTLE  STAIR-CASE.— NURSE'S 

DITTIES.  —  SEE-SAW. — AN  ARTFUL  SERVANT.  —  PUBLIC  WORSHIP.  —  DR. 
EARLE. —  DARKNESS  AND  LIGHT DR.  WATTS's  SONGS.  —  MISS  AND  MAS- 
TER.  THE     DROWNING     FLY. ILLNESS.  —  RESPECT    FOR    MINISTERS. — 

INFANT  CRITICISM.  —  LILLIPUTIAN  CANDLES.  —  PRINTING.  —  AN  EXPERI- 
MENT. —  A  DISTINCTION.  —  GRATEFUL  RECOLLECTIONS. 


It  was  one  evening,  about  an  hour  before  our  usual 
tea-time,  that  my  young  friends  came  to  me,  and  begged 
me  to  tell  them  something  about  my  birth-place  and  the 
days  of  my  childhood.  They  had  been  very  diligent  in 
reading,  and  amiable  in  their  conduct  all  the  afternoon  ; 
so  I  thought  I  would  indulge  them.  Accordingly,  when 
they  had  closed  their  books,  and  seated  themselves  be- 
fore me,  I  proceeded  to  inform  them  that  I  was  born  at 
Hackney,  about  two  miles  from  London ;  but  of  that  sit- 
uation I  have  no  recollection,  as  my  parents  moved  when 
I  was  but  a  few  months  old. 


8  THE    GIRL'S     BOOK. 

Agnes.  Was  it  a  nice  house,  mamma,  and  how  came 
your  parents  to  leave  it  1 

Mother.  I  believe  it  was  a  very  nice  house,  but  it 
was  the  scene  of  very  heavy  affliction  to  my  dear  parents. 
Besides  the  loss  of  five  children  in  infancy,  they  were 
there  called  to  part,  in  one  week,  with  their  only  son,  a 
most  promising  boy  between  eight  and  nine  years  old, 
and  a  lovely  little  girl,  between  five  and  six. 

Agnes.  And  then  I  suppose  they  could  not  bear  the 
place  ;  I  should  have  felt  just  the  same. 

Emily.  And  I  should  have  felt  just  the  reverse.  I 
should  have  let  every  thing  remain  exactly  in  the  same 
place  ;  and  I  should  have  gone  every  day,  perhaps  every 
hour,  to  look  at  what  belonged  to  them ;  that  would  have 
been  my  greatest  comfort. 

Mother.  I  think  you  would  both  have  been  wrong  : 
the  endeavour  to  banish  the  remembrance  of  sorrow,  and 
a  sentimental  cherishing  of  the  circumstances  connected 
with  it,  have  both  a  tendency  to  deprive  us  of  the  bene- 
fits which  affliction  is  designed  to  impart.  The  proper 
medium  is  enjoined  in  Scripture,  where  we  are  exhorted 
not  to  despise  the  chastening  of  the  Lord,  nor  to  faint 
when  we  are  rebuked  of  him.  I  think  you  must  feel 
conscious  of  very  different  effects  produced  on  your  own 
minds  by  the  few  chastisements  with  which  you  have 
been  exercised. 

Agnes.  Yes,  mamma,  I  am  sure  I  do.  Once  in  par- 
ticular I  was  punished,  as  I  thought,  unjustly,  for  having 
mislaid  my  French  Grammar.  The  teacher  would  not 
let  me  have  my  dinner  till  I  had  found  it.  I  recollect 
feeling  determined  that  I  would  not  seem  to  care  about 
it,  and  said  that  I  was  not  at  all  hungry.  While  the  rest 
of  the  girls  were  at  dinner,  instead  of  looking  for  my 


FAMILY    AFFLICTIONS.  9 

book,  I  played  with  my  doll ;  not  that  I  was  really  amused 
by  it,  but  I  was  indulging  a  rebellious  spirit,  and  felt  an- 
gry and  resentful  against  the  teacher  for  punishing  me, 
instead  of  angry  with  myself  for  my  carelessness.  An- 
other time,  —  I  dare  say  mamma  you  remember  punish- 
ing me  for  the  same  fault,  —  when  papa  took  the  rest  of 
the  children  to  see  a  caravan  of  wild  beasts,  I  could  not 
find  my  gloves,  and  you  obliged  me  to  stay  at  home.  All 
the  time  they  were  gone,  I  kept  thinking  that  the  disap- 
pointment was  entirely  owing  to  my  own  fault,  and  that 
you  served  me  just  right  in  correcting  me.  I  hope,  mam- 
ma, that  correction  did  me  a  little  good,  and  that  I  have 
not  been  quite  so  careless  since. 

Mother.  I  am  happy,  my  dear  child,  to  think  the 
same  ;  and  both  in  the  discipline  of  earthly  parents,  and 
that  of  our  heavenly  Father  towards  his  children,  those 
chastisements  alone  are  beneficial,  which  lead  to  a  con- 
viction of  the  evil  of  sin,  and  the  justice,  wisdom,  and 
kindness,  that  directed  the  infliction.  "  Now  no  chas- 
tening for  the  present  seemeth  to  be  joyous,  but  griev- 
ous ;  nevertheless,  afterwards  it  yieldeth  the  peaceable 
fruits  of  righteousness  to  them  that  are  exercised  thereby." 

Sarah.  Pray,  ma'am,  did  your  parents  profit  by  the 
heavy  afflictions  with  which  they  were  exercised  1 

Mother.  I  hope  and  believe  they  did ;  though  they 
did  not  at  that  time  so  clearly  perceive  the  design  of  the 
dispensation,  or  the  methods  of  saving  mercy,  as  at  a 
later  period  of  life.  The  loss  of  their  children  was  the 
means  of  weaning  them  from  the  ^ayeties  of  the  world, 
and  of  awakening  them  to  a  greater  regard  for  the  Holy 
Scriptures. 

Emily.  That  was  a  good  thing  for  you,  mamma,  as 
it  no  doubt  made  them  the  more  careful  in  bringing  you 


10  THE     GIRL'S    BOOK. 

up.  And  yet,  mamma,  I  have  sometimes  felt  a  wish 
that  we  might  see  a  little  more  of  those  pleasures  that  I 
have  heard  my  cousins  speak  about.  They  say  they 
hardly  pass  an  evening  during  the  holidays,  without  go- 
ing to  a  ball,  or  a  play,  or  a  card  party. 

Ruth.  0,  Emily!  you  little  think  what  you  wish. 
Before  we  came  to  dear  Mrs.  Stanton's,  Eleanor  and  I 
used  to  go  into  such  scenes,  with  one  or  other  of  our 
guardians.  Though  we  did  not  think  whether  there  was 
any  harm  in  it,  and  felt  pleased  when  we  received  an  in- 
vitation, or  when  a  party  was  made  up  for  ourselves,  we 
used  to  come  home  quite  tired  and  disappointed.  We 
have  often  said  we  wished  never  to  go  into  a  party  again. 
But  when  the  uncomfortable  feeling  had  gone  off,  we 
were  ready  to  rejoice  at  the  next  invitation.  Just  so, 
perhaps,  we  should  always  have  gone  on,  if  we  had  not 
been  brought  here,  and  taught  to  seek  better  pleasures. 

Eleanor.  So  far  from  wishing  to  go  back  to  our  for- 
mer pleasures,  I  can  assure  you  we  are  quite  anxious 
every  half-year  to  find  that  we  shall  be  permitted  to  spend 
the  holidays  in  this  happy,  quiet  place.  Next  year  my 
uncle  intends  to  return  from  India,  and  we  are  to  live 
with  him.  I  am  sure  we  love  him  dearly,  for  he  has  al- 
ways been  exceedingly  kind  to  us  ever  since  our  dear 
parents  died.  And  yet  we  quite  dread  the  thought  of 
his  return,  lest  we  should  then  again  be  obliged  to  mix 
in  those  gay  scenes  which  I  cannot  bear  to  call  pleasure. 
Our  dear  parents  had  no  inclination  for  such  things ;  and 
if  they  had  lived,  we  should  have  been  kept  out  of  the 
way  of  them. 

Emily.  Well,  I  dare  say  you  are  right ;  and  that, 
instead. of  wishing  to  know  about  such  things,  we  have 
reason  to  be  thankful  for  never  having  been  taken  among 


NEWCASTLE    STAIRCASE.  11 

them.  I  don't  know  that  it  was  exactly  a  ivish,  for  I 
never  think  about  it  except  when  I  see  my  cousins ;  but 
when  they  make  such  a  boast  about  what  they  enjoy,  it 
gives  one  a  sort  of  curiosity  to  know  something  about  it. 

Agnes.  Well,  I  would  rather  sit  quietly  around  this 
cheerful  fire,  and  talk  with  dear  mamma,  than  go  to  the 
grandest  ball  that  ever  was  known. 

Emily.  So  would  I,  dear  Agnes,  when  I  come  to 
think  about  it. 

Elizabeth.  Please,  my  dears,  let  your  mamma  go  on 
with  her  story.  Will  you  tell  us,  ma'am,  where  you 
lived  when  you  left  that  house  where  you  were  born  ? 

Mother.  We  travelled  about  for  two  years,  visiting 
most  parts  of  England,  and  went  as  far  north  as  Edin- 
burgh. 

Agnes.  0,  mamma,  that  accounts  for  what  I  have 
heard  you  say  when  papa  asks  you  if  you  have  been  to 
such  or  such  a  place,  you  often  reply,  "  I  believe  I  have 
been  there,  but  when  I  was  too  young  to  know  any  thing 
about  it." 

Mother.  I  sometimes,  however,  fancy  that  I  have  a 
confused  recollection  of  some  incidents  of  that  journey  ; 
but  I  suppose  it  must  be  merely  a  sort  of  traditionary  re- 
collection from  what  I  have  heard  my  parents,  or  sisters, 
or  old  nurse  say.  In  one  rather  odd  particular  I  know 
this  was  the  case.  At  New-castle-upon-Tyne,  the  as- 
cent into  the  town  is  remarkably  steep,  so  that  nurse  re- 
marked, it  was  like  riding  up  stairs  in  a  carriage.  From 
that  time,  when  she  wanted  me  to  go  to  bed,  she  would 
often  take  me  up  in  her  arms,  or  put  me  on  her  back, 
(which  she  called  riding  a-pick-a-back),  and  say,  "Come 
now,  let  us  ride  up  stairs  to  Newcastle."  From  this  I 
got  the  idea  that  the  ascent  to  the  town  of  Newcastle 


12  THE    GIRL'S     BOOK. 

was  actually  upon  a  staircase,  and  fancied  that  I  could 
remember  feeling  the  jolt  of  the  carriage  at  every  step. 
The  impression  had  not  forsaken  me  when  I  went  to 
school,  and  I  then  asserted  it  as  a  fact,  much  to  the  as- 
tonishment of  the  more  simple  and  credulous  of  my 
schoolfellows,  and  to  the  utter  indignation  of  the  rest, 
who  accused  me  of  deliberate  falsehood.  My  kind  go- 
verness took  great  pains  both  to  convince  me  of  my  mis- 
take, and  to  re-establish  my  character  for  veracity  among 
my  schoolfellows.  I  hope  this  affair  taught  me  to  avoid 
a  habit  of  positively  asserting  any  thing  very  improba- 
ble, even  though  I  may  have  the  most  powerful  impres- 
sion of  its  truth.  This  is  a  lesson  worth  remembering 
by  girls  in  general. 

Rose.  Please  ma'am,  what  else  do  you  remember 
when  you  were  a  very  little  child  1 

Mother.  I  remember  some  of  old  nurse's  ditties, 
and,  simple  as  they  were,  she  somehow  contrived  to  con- 
vey good  sentiments  by  means  of  them.  This  was  one  — 

"  See-saw,  Jack  of  the  hedge, 
Show  me  the  way  to  London  bridge." 

"  One  foot  up,  and  the  other  foot  down, 
That 's  the  way  to  London  town." 

The  old  lady  would  put  my  play-things,  or  fruit,  to 
make  a  feast,  as  she  called  it,  in  one  corner  of  the  room, 
which  she  said  was  London.  Then,  taking  me  to  the 
opposite  corner  of  the  room,  and  setting  me  on  her  knee, 
she  would  go  see-saw,  and  sing  the  first  part  of  the  ditty. 
Presently  she  would  say,  "  0  dear,  dear  !  if  we  sit  here, 
see-sawing,  we  shall  not  get  to  London  to-day ;"  then 
she  would  set  me  down,  and  make  me  step  along  the 
carpet,  at  the  same  time  briskly  singing  — 


nurse's   ditties.  13 

"  One  foot  up,  and  the  other  foot  down, 
That's  the  way  to  London  town." 

By  this  means  she  early  impressed  me  with  a  disgust  of 
that  indolent  see-saw  way  which  some  people  have  of 
wishing  for  things,  and  asking  other  people  to  help  them, 
instead  of  bestirring  themselves.  "  The  sluggard,"  says 
King  Solomon,  "  desires  and  has  nothing,  because  his 
hands  refuse  to  labour ;"  and  "  The  sluggard  turns  like 
the  door  upon  its  hinges,"  moving  about,  but  getting  no 
forwarder.  The  sluggard  is  always  a  wretched  and 
contemptible  character.  I  hope,  my  dear  girls,  when 
we  have  a  good  object  in  view,  we  shall  always  be  dis- 
posed to  set  ahout  trying  for  ourselves,  and  to  persevere 
till  we  attain  it.  Industry  and  perseverance,  under  the 
blessing  of  God,  can  surmount  great  difficulties,  and  se- 
cure great  advantages. 

Agnes.  I  dare  say,  mamma,  you  thought  of  old 
nurse's  ditty  when  I  was  so  out  of  heart  about  learning 
English  history.  I  recollect  saying  to  you  how  much 
I  wished  that  I  knew  it  as  well  as  Elizabeth  and  Sarah, 
but  that  I  was  certain  I  should  never  be  able  even  to  re- 
member the  names  of  all  the  kings ;  and  you  replied, 
"  One  fact  at  a  time,  and  one  name  at  a  time,  and  mind 
you  set  them  one  after  another  in  the  right  place,  and  so 
you  may  become  possessed  of  English  history. 

Mother.     Well,  and  did  you  find  my  plan  succeed? 

Agnes.  Yes,  mamma,  as  far  as  I  have  learned  any 
thing  about  it,  it  has  been  learned  in  the  way  you  said  — 
by  patient  application,  getting  one  thing  at  a  time  ;  but  I 
am  still  far  behind  several  of  the  others,  and  I  often  hear 
a  circumstance  mentioned  as  happening  in  such  or  such 
a  reign,  which  is  quite  new  to  me. 

Mother.     I  dare  say  you  do  ;  but  you  have  so  far  ac- 


14  THE    G 

quired  English  history  as  to  have  a  general  idea  of  each 
reign.  For  example,  if  the  wars  of  York  and  Lancas- 
ter should  be  spoken  of,  your  mind  would  not  for  a  mo- 
ment run  to  the  times  of  the  Saxon  kings ;  or  if  you 
heard  of  the  sufferings  of  martyrs,  you  would  hardly  im- 
agine that  they  took  place  in  the  reigns  of  the  Georges. 
To  apply  to  this  case  the  sentiment  of  the  ditty,  you  have 
by  the  persevering  exercise  enjoined,  of  "  One  foot  up 
and  the  other  foot  down,"  got  over  the  road  to  "  Lon- 
don town."  But  it  is  by  going  over  it  again  and  again, 
that  you  will  become  familiar  with  every  turning,  bridge, 
tree,  and  stile.  When  passing  a  road  that  you  have 
often  been  before,  you  readily  perceive  if  a  house  is  built, 
or  a  tree  cut  down,  and  you  can  generally  describe  the 
exact  spot  where  this  alteration  has  taken  place.  So, 
having  made  yourself  familiar  with  the  outline  of  Eng- 
lish history,  whenever  you  acquire  the  knowledge  of  any 
fact  hitherto  new  to  you,  take  pains  to  associate  it  in 
your  mind  with  some  other  event  with  which  you  are  al- 
ready familiar,  and  thus  you  will,  by  degrees,  acquire 
both  a  comprehensive  and  correct  knowledge  of  the  sub- 
ject. The  same  remark  will  apply  to  every  other  pur- 
suit. —  Begin  right,  and  persevere  ;  and  thus  every  thing 
really  great  and  good  may  be  attained. 

Elizabeth.  Well,  ma'am,  and  what  else  did  your  old 
nurse  teach  you  1  She  must  have  been  a  sensible,  good 
sort  of  woman. 

Mother.  Yes,  she  certainly  was  a  woman  of  good 
understanding,  of  respectable  education,  and  one  who 
had  the  fear  of  God  before  her  eyes  :  hence  she  was  very 
careful  never  to  say  or  do  any  thing  that  it  would  be  im- 
proper for  me  to  observe,  or  repeat ;  and  I  am  to  this  day 
thankful,  when  recollecting  the  scenes  of  my  early  child- 


AN     ARTFUL    SERVANT.  15 

hood,  that  there  is  nothing  in  connexion  with  my  nurse 
that  I  would  wish  to  forget. 

Rose.  Oh!  ma'am,  I  wish  I  could  forget  all  the 
naughty  things  that  I  have  heard  our  Jenny  say  ;  I  re- 
member once  at  dinner,  there  was  some  a-la-mode  beef 
on  table,  which  I  wished  to  taste,  but  my  mamma  did  not 
think  it  proper  for  me.  Afterwards,  Jenny  called  me 
into  the  kitchen,  and  gave  me  some,  which  I  knew  was 
very  wrong  after  mamma  had  forbidden  it.  It  made  me 
very  ill,  and  my  poor  mamma  was  so  uneasy.  How  I 
did  wish  to  tell  her  the  truth,  and  beg  her  to  forgive  me ! 
but  Jenny  told  me  if  I  said  a  word  about  it,  she  would 
speak  to  an  old  black  man,  and  tell  him  to  take  me 
away.  This  frightened  me  so  much  that  I  dared  not 
mention  it.  I  know  now  that  no  black  man  wanted  to 
hurt  me  ;  but  it  often  comes  into  my  mind  still,  and  makes 
me  scream  out  in  my  sleep ;  and  then,  what  was  worst 
of  all,  my  poor  dear  mamma  died  soon  after,  and  I  had 
never  asked  her  to  forgive  me  ;  and  after  she  was  dead, 
Jenny  used  to  do  still  worse  things,  and  bribe  or  threaten 
me  not  to  tell.  At  last  papa  found  her  out,  and  turned 
her  away,  and  then  I  was  sent  here.  But  very  often 
now  I  do  wrong,  and  Mrs.  Stanton  often  says,  when  I 
am  in  my  bad  tempers,  "  That  may  be  some  of  naughty 
Jenny's  doings,  —  but  we  must  not  have  such  words  and 
actions  here ;"  I  hope  I  shall  forget  it  some  time  or  other. 

Mother.  Poor  little  Rose !  It  is  grievous  to  see  a 
dear  little  motherless  girl  thus  cruelly  injured  by  a  wick- 
ed unprincipled  servant.  My  dear  children,  I  don't  want 
to  make  you  tell-tales,  but  if  ever  a  servant  offers  you 
any  indulgence  which  a  parent  has  forbidden,  or  if  ever 
they  say,  "  Don't  tell  your  mamma,"  let  the  very  first 
thing  you  do  be  to  tell  your  mamma  all  about  it ;  for  a 


16  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

servant  who  can  be  guilty  of  such  wickedness  ought  not 
to  be  trusted  a  single  hour  in  the  presence  of  a  child. 
To  return  to  my  good  old  nurse,  of  whom  I  always  speak 
with  grateful  pleasure.  She  was  the  first  who  took  me 
to  the  house  of  God.  I  recollect  my  dear  mother  ex- 
pressing a  fear  that  she  would  not  be  able  to  keep  me 
quiet,  but  nurse  pledged  herself  for  my  good  behaviour ; 
and  her  kind,  yet  firm  manner,  gave  her  such  full  com- 
mand over  me,  that  I  believe  she  never  found  me  trou- 
blesome. She  was  very  particular  always  to  go  in  good 
time  ;  and  if  any  person  came  in  after  service  began,  she 
would  afterwards  remark  to  me  how  very  improper  such 
a  practice  was,  in  a  way  that  made  me  abhor  it.  It  is  a 
good  thing  to  have  a  habit  of  being  always  ready  in  pro- 
per time  ;  and  those  who  instil  this  habit  on  children  do 
them  a  real  kindness.  I  remember  hearing  my  mother 
say,  that  when  a  child,  she  attended  with  her  aunt  on  the 
ministry  of  Dr.  Earle,  who  was  exceedingly  annoyed  by 
some  of  his  congregation  coming  in  too  late,  and  others 
hurrying  out  before  the  service  was  concluded.  He 
once  reproved  the  late  comers,  by  saying  he  supposed 
they  had  been  detained  longer  than  they  were  aware  of 
at  private  or  family  prayer  ;  "  but,"  said  he,  "  the  beauty 
of  Christian  perfection,  is  so  to  order  it,  that  one  duty 
shall  never  jostle  ouf  another."  In  like  manner  he  re- 
buked those  who  disturbed  the  congregation  by  bursting 
out  before  the  service  was  over.  Before  pronouncing 
the  benediction,  he  made  a  solemn  pause,  and  said, 
"  Now,  you  that  do  not  want  a  blessing  are  requested  to 
go  out,  and  leave  those  who  do,  to  enjoy  it  in  peace." 
Not  one  of  the  congregation  stirred,  —  and  from  that 
time  the  disturbance  was  never  repeated.  Be  sure  my 
dear  young  friends  that  you  always  come  in  time  to  join 


DARKNESS     AND    LIGHT.  17 

the  first  petition,  and  reverently  remain  to  receive  the 
closing  blessing.  My  nurse  always  tried  to  make  me 
remember  something  the  minister  had  said,  if  it  was  only 
one  sentence  ;  she  did  not  like  me  to  drop  asleep,  or  play 
with  a  book,  or  a  fan,  but  would  tell  me  to  listen  to  the 
minister,  and,  perhaps,  he  might  say  something  that  I 
could  understand.  The  first  thing  I  noticed  was  that 
expression  in  prayer,  "  Lighten  our  darkness,  we  beseech 
thee,  0  Lord."  When  I  repeated  this  to  nurse  at  home, 
she  thus  simply  explained  it,  —  "When  it  is  dark,  and 
we  cannot  see,  God  can  see  us.  He  takes  care  of  us, 
and  keeps  us  from  harm  ;  so  we  must  love  God,  and 
pray  to  him,  and  then  we  need  not  mind  the  dark  any 
more  than  the  light ;  thus  God  does  lighten  our  dark- 
ness." 

She  often  used  to  lead  me  up  stairs  in  the  dark,  teach- 
ing me  to  count  the  steps  as  I  went  up  and  down,  and  to 
feel  about,  that  I  might  not  run  against  any  thing,  and 
strike  myself.  She  would  also  make  me  observe  by 
day-light  exactly  where  she  placed  the  things  in  the 
drawers,  and  in  the  dark  make  me  feel  for  what  I  wanted. 

Agnes.  Mamma,  that  is  just  what  you  used  to  do  for 
us,  when  we  were  little.  I  suppose  you  learned  it  of 
your  nurse. 

Mother.  Yes ;  both  my  mother  and  my  nurse  ac- 
customed me  to  it,  and  having  found  it  beneficial  in  more 
ways  than  one,  I  was  desirous  of  imparting  it  to  my  chil- 
dren. It  is  a  good  thing  for  children  to  have  no  foolish 
fears  about  being  in  the  dark  ;  a  good  thing  to  be  handy 
at  finding  one's  way  about  in  the  dark  ;  and  a  good  thing 
to  keep  drawers  in  such  neat  order  that  you  can  as  readi- 
ly lay  your  hand  on  an  article  in  the  dark,  as  in  the  light. 

Emily.     I  wish,  mamma,  I  could  keep  my  drawers  as 
2* 


28  THE    GIRL'S   BOOK. 

tidy  as  you  do.  I  often  put  them  to  rights,  but  they  soon 
get  out  of  order. 

Mother.  0,  Emily,  Emily !  that  is  a  very  see-saw 
sort  of  speech.  If  you  really  wish  to  be  tidy,  mere  is 
nothing  to  hinder  your  accomplishing  it.  Remem- 
ber, "  one  foot  up,  and  the  other  foot  down  ;"  it  is  only 
putting  every  thing  neatly  in  your  drawers,  and  taking 
every  thing  carefully  out,  and  your  drawers  will  be  al- 
ways tidy  ;  but  if  you  throw  in  your  things  carelessly 
when  they  come  from  the. wash,  and  when  you  get  out 
one  article,  overturn  the  whole  pile,  and  never  stay  to 
replace  it,  do  not  say  you  wish  to  be  tidy. 

It  gave  me  pleasure  to  observe,  that  before  breakfast 
next  morning,  both  my  little  girls  had  set  their  drawers 
to  rights ;  and  I  have  never  since  that  time  seen  the 
linen  tumbled  in  confusion,  nor  heard  them  complain  of 
not  being  able  to  find  a  pair  of  stockings,  or  a  pocket- 
handkerchief.  My  friend,  Mrs.  Stanton,  was  observing 
to  me  the  other  day,  that  her  young  ladies  were  becoming 
very  expert  at  finding  things  in  the  dark,  and  that  it  was 
almost  reckoned  a  disgrace  among  them  to  require  a 
candle  for  fetching  any  thing  that  might  be  wanted  in  an 
evening.  So  I  have  reason  to  hope  my  telling  them 
about  old  nurse's  habits  had  been  productive  of  some 
good. 

My  good  nurse,  long  before  I  could  read,  taught  me 
to  repeat  several  of  Dr.  Watts's  Divine  Songs  for  chil- 
dren, and  very  often  conveyed  any  sentiment,  caution, 
or  reproof,  in  the  words  of  one  of  those  hymns.  This 
helped  at  once  to  impress  them  on  my  mind,  and  to  make 
me  aware  of  the  practical  use  to  which  I  was  to  apply 
them.  Hence,  whenever  I  was  afterwards  cautioned 
against  the  sin  of  falsehood,  or  tempted  to  practise  it, 


DR.    WATTS's    SONGS.  S9 

the  little  poem,  "  O  'tis  a  lovely  thing  for  youth,"  gene- 
rally came  into  my  mind  with  the  rude  picture  of  a 
naughty  girl,  and  her  mother  with  the  rod  in  her  hand  ; 
and  I  seemed  to  feel  myself  once  more  on  old  nurse's 
knee,  listening  to  her  simple  stories,  and  affectionate 
admonitions.  Whenever  also  I  saw  a  poor  person,  and 
especially  if  I  was  permitted  to  carry  them  provisions,  I 
was  exceedingly  pleased  if  it  happened  to  be  a  piece  of 
meat  of  the  same  shape  as  that  in  the  picture  to  the  poem, 
entitled,  "  Good  Resolutions."  These  things  are  tri- 
fling in  themselves,  but  there  is  good  done  even  by  the 
rudest  picture  or  the  simplest  sentiment  that  is  early 
connected  with  some  good  feeling  on  the  mind  of  a 
child.  I  could  not  bear  to  look  at  the  picture  of  dogs 
fighting,  and  boys  throwing  stones,  for  my  nurse  told  me 
that  it  was  very  shocking ;  and  I  have  always  been  dis- 
tressed and  shocked  at  hearing  of  disputes  and  battles. 
Shall  I  own,  that  a  very  few  years  since,  happening  to 
see  in  a  shop  a  copy  of  the  very  edition  of  Watts's  Di- 
vine Songs,  out  of  which  I  used  to  learn,  I  spent  sixpence 
upon  it,  expressly  for  the  pleasure  of  looking  over  the 
old  pictures,  and  calling  up  old  associations  1 

One  of  my  nurse's  simple  stories  was  employed  to 
awaken  in  me  the  desire  of  doing  good  to  poor  children ; 
and  another  impressed  on  my  mind  sentiments  of  huma- 
nity and  tenderness  to  insects,  and  dumb  creatures  in 
general.  The  good  woman  took  such  opportunities  of 
telling  these  stories,  as  would  exemplify  the  instruction 
she  intended  to  convey.  One  of  them  I  will  relate  to 
you. 

A  little  cousin  of  mine  came  to  play  with  me,  and  be- 
gan to  amuse  himself  by  hunting  the  flies  on  the  win- 
dows.    I  believe  he  had  never  been  taught  that  they 


20  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

could  feel.  He  looked  very  grave  when  nurse  asked 
him  how  he  would  like  a  tall  strong  giant  to  come  and 
twist  off  his  legs  and  arms  ;  and  when  she  told  him, 
that  the  same  great  God  who  made  him,  made  the  poor 
little  frisking  fly,  and  could  hear  their  cries  if  they  were 
ill  used  by  cruel  children.  On  his  promising  never  to 
do  the  like  again,  she  repeated  to  us  these  pretty  lines. 

THE   DROWNING  FLY. 

"In  yonder  cup  behold  a  drowning  fly, 
Its  little  wings  how  vainly  doth  it  ply  ; 
Its  cries  I  hear  not,  though  it  loudly  cries, 
And  gentle  hearts  must  feel  its  agonies. 
Poor  helpless  victim !  and  will  no  one  save  ? 
Will  no  one  snatch  thee  from  the  threat'ning  wave  ? 
And  is  there  no  kind  hand  —  no  helper  nigh  ? 
And  must  thou,  little  struggler,  must  thou  die  ? 
Thou  shalt  not  die  —  this  hand  shall  set  thee  free, 
This  hand  restore  thee  to  sweet  liberty. 
My  finger's  tip  shall  prove  thy  friendly  shore. 
There,  little  struggler  —  now  thy  danger's  o'er, 
Go  wipe  thy  wetted  wings,  go  banish  care, 
And  join  thy  buzzing  brothers  in  the  air. 
Away  he  flies,  resumes  his  harmless  play, 
And  blithely  gambols  in  the  golden  ray." 

Rose.  My  little  brother  learned  some  verses  very 
much  like  that.  It  begins,  "  So,  so,  you  are  running 
away,  Mr.  Fly." 

Mother.  Yes,  my  dear ;  a  very  pretty  little  poem  it 
is,  from  Nursery  Rhymes,  by  Miss  Taylor.  My  good 
old  nurse  had  not  the  advantage  of  those  valuable  little 
books,  but  she  made  the  best  use  of  what  she  had.  I 
remember  one  or  two  things  more  about  her ;  one  was, 
her  telling  me  about  my  brother  and  sister,  who  died 


TAKING   MEDICINE.  21 

when  I  was  an  infant.  So  much  of  reality  was  im- 
pressed on  my  mind  of  what  she  told  me  about  their  little 
sayings  and  doings,  the  grief  of  the  whole  family  at  losing 
them,  and  the  full  confidence  that  was  entertained  of 
their  being  now  among  the  holy  and  happy  children  in 
heaven,  that  I  fancied  I  had  a  recollection  of  them,  which 
was  utterly  impossible.  I  sometimes  wept  to  think  of 
having  lost  them,  and  set  them  up  as  my  example.  If  I 
could  but  be  as  good  as  they  were,  I  must  be  a  comfort 
to  my  parents.  Nurse  often  prayed  that  this  might  be 
the  case. 

When  about  three  years  old,  I  had  a  dangerous  ill- 
ness. This  brings  to  my  mind  one  thing  which  nurse 
had  taken  great  pains  to  impress  upon  me  —  sentiments 
of  respect  and  reverence  for  the  ministers  of  the  gospel. 
If  at  any  time  I  was  perverse  and  naughty,  she  would 
say,  how  much  it  would  grieve  good  Mr.  W.  to  know 
that  you  are  such  a  naughty  girl !  During  my  illness,  I 
recollect  being  persuaded  to  swallow  some  nauseous 
medicine,  with  the  assurance  that  Mr.  W.  desired  I 
would  take  it ;  and  that  he  hoped,  under  the  blessing  of 
God,  it  would  do  me  good ;  that  he  had  sent  me  some 
lozenges  to  take  after  it ;  and  that  he  would  come  and 
see  me  when  I  was  better.  I  well  remember  his  visit, 
and  his  kind  expressions  of  approbation  at  my  obedience  ; 
and  I  remember,  too,  feeling  pleased  and  satisfied  at  his 
confirming  the  messages  that  had  been  communicated  to 
me ;  this  gave  me  great  confidence  in  the  testimony  of 
my  parents  and  my  nurse  in  future. 

Rose.  I  am  sure  I  never  believed  naughty  Jenny  any 
more  after  she  persuaded  me  to  have  on  a  blister,  which 
she  said  would  not  hurt  me,  —  and  it  did  hurt  me  very 
much,  and  made  a  great  sore  place,  and  I  tore  it  off  in 


22  TH  E    G  IRL'S   BOOK. 

the  night ;  and  I  heard  her  laugh,  and  tell  the  cook  that 
she  managed  me  very  nicely,  for  she  was  sure  she  never 
should  have  got  me  to  have  it  on,  if  she  had  not  made 
me  believe  that  it  would  not  hurt  me.  Don't  you  think, 
Mrs.  White,  that  it  is  very  wicked  to  make  children  be- 
lieve what  is  not  true  1 

Mother.  Yes,  my  dear,  indeed  I  do ;  and  very  fool- 
ish, as  well  as  wicked.  I  think  if  you  had  been  with 
me,  or  with  Mrs.  Stanton,  and  we  had  told  you  that  the 
blister  would  put  you  to  some  pain,  but  that  it  was  con- 
sidered necessary  to  prevent  your  having  greater  pain 
and  illness,  and  that  in  a  few  hours  the  pain  it  occasion- 
ed, would  be  over  :  you  would  have  been  willing  to  have 
it  on,  and  to  lie  still  even  while  you  were  in  pain. 

Rose.  Yes,  ma'am,  I  am  sure  I  should ;  I  would  do 
any  thing  that  you  or  Mrs.  Stanton  desire,  because  I 
know  you  love  me,  and  would  not  deceive  me. 

Mother.  Well,  it  was  just  so  with  my  good  nurse. 
She  always  treated  me  as  a  reasonable  being,  always 
spoke  to  me  exactly  as  she  meant,  and  expected  me  to 
speak  the  same  to  her;  therefore,  I  always  believed 
what  she  said,  and  was  in  general  willing  to  comply  with 
what  she  desired.  During  that  illness,  she  often  endea- 
voured to  direct  my  infant  thoughts  to  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  the  gracious  and  condescending  Friend  of  little 
children.  I  have  a  distinct  recollection  of  one  little  in- 
cident. On  my  affectionately  embracing  her,  she  said, 
"  I  am  glad  you  love  me  now ;  you  did  not  love  me  yes- 
terday." I  replied,  "  I  was  too  ill  to  love  myself."  She 
then  told  me  about  the  blessed  Saviour,  when  suffering 
dreadful  agonies  on  the  cross  ;  how  kind  he  was  to  those 
around  him ;  how  he  regarded  the  prayer  of  the  dying 
thief,  provided  a  home  for  his  sorrowful  mother,  and 


BOOKS.  23 

prayed  that  his  cruel  enemies  might  be  forgiven.  As  I 
got  better,  she  read  to  me  these  delightful  facts  ;  I  hope 
they  made  some  impression  on  my  mind  :  certainly  they 
awakened  a  desire  to  learn  to  read,  that  I  might  be  able 
to  examine  them  for  myself.  On  my  recovery,  my  dear 
father  gave  me  a  large  box  of  ivory  letters,  with  which  I 
amused  myself  for  hours  together,  and  soon  learned  to 
form  them  into  words.  Soon  afterwards,  Mrs.  Bar- 
bauld's  Easy  Lessons  were  given  to  me ;  I  read  them 
again  and  again,  till  I  almost  knew  them  by  heart.  They 
were  the  means  of  rendering  familiar  to  my  mind,  and 
imprinting  on  my  memory,  several  useful  common  things, 
such  as  the  order  of  the  days  of  the  week,  and  months 
of  the  year,  with  the  appearances  and  productions  of 
nature.  But  there  were  a  few  things  into  which  I  could 
not  exactly  enter.  One  was  this.  When  the  little  boy, 
Charles,  asked  for  meat  at  dinner,  he  was  told  that  meat 
was  not  good  for  little  boys ;  "  but,"  said  his  mother, 
"there  are  dumplings,  and  potatoes,  and  turnips,  and 
carrots,  and  peas,  and  beans,"  and  a  number  more  vege- 
tables. Supposing  that  every  thing  must  be  exactly  true 
which  was  printed  in  a  book,  I  observed  to  my  nurse, 
"  How  many  saucepans  there  must  have  been  on  the 
fire  to  boil  all  these  vegetables  at  once !  And  what  a 
large  table  it  must  take  to  spread  all  the  dishes  !  " 

Another  passage  at  which  I  stumbled  was,  where 
Charles  is  told  to  put  on  his  hat  and  coat,  and  say,  "  Good 
bye,  papa.  Now  we  are  in  a  ship  —  blow,  wind —  sail, 
ship ;  now  we  are  in  France."  It  seemed  to  me  that 
the  work  of  two  or  three  days  was  crowded  into  a  minute. 
And  then  again  —  Charles  was  called  to  read  his  ordi- 
nary lessons  on  the  Sunday,  the  same  as  other  days.  I 
remember  asking  my  nurse,  and  both  my  sisters,  and,  at 


24  THE     GIRL'S    BOOK. 

last,  my  mother,  if  this  was  right.  If  it  was  right,  why 
should  I  not  read  my  regular  lessons  on  a  Sunday  1  But 
they  all  agreed  that  it  was  not  quite  right.  "  Then," 
thought  I,  "  if  it  is  not  right,  it  is  wrong  ;  and  the  person 
who  wrote  the  book  is  not  a  good  person ;  and  I  shall 
never  like  the  book  any  more."  This  was  rather  hard 
judgement.  But  it  has  been  very  justly  observed,  that 
"  children  are  acute  critics  in  things  with  which  they  are 
well  acquainted,  and  that  what  offends  them  is  generally 
objectionable." 

Emily.  Well,  mamma,  it  certainly  is  very  provoking 
to  read  of  people  doing  things  which  we  are  quite  sure 
they  could  not  do ;  and  as  to  wrong  things,  people  ought 
no  more  to  put  them  in  a  book  than  to  do  them. 

JWother.  I  hope,  Emily,  if  ever  I  publish  a  book,  it 
will  not  be  found  offensive  to  critical  young  ladies  ;  that 
it  will  be  lively  enough  to  interest  them  in  reading  it,  yet 
sober  enough  to  afford  them  real  profit.  I  would  wish 
not  to  injure  their  minds  by  what  is  frivolous,  nor  to  dis- 
gust or  deceive  them  by  what  is  improbable,  nor  to  wea- 
ry them  with  what  is  tedious  and  heavy.  I  think  now 
you  must  have  heard  enough  of  the  days  of  your  mother's 
childhood. 

Emily.  No,  mamma,  indeed  we  have  not ;  we  want 
to  know  how  long  nurse  lived  with  you,  and  when  you 
began  to  go  to  school,  and  who  were  your  playfellows. 

Mother.  Soon  after  the  illness  which  I  have  men- 
tioned, nurse  left  our  house  to  attend  upon  a  relation  of 
my  father's,  then  in  a  declining  state  of  health.  She  re- 
mained with  the  old  lady  till  she  died,  which  was  several 
years  afterwards ;  but  she  frequently  called  to  see  us, 
and  retained  a  fond  affection  for  the  child  she  had  so 
tenderly  nursed.       Several   little   presents   which   she 


PRINTING AN     EXPERIMENT.  25 

brought  me  were  among  the  most  valued  treasures  of 
my  childhood.  One  of  her  sons  was  apprenticed  to  a 
tallow-chandler,  and  the  other  to  a  printer ;  the  ingenuity 
of  each  was  employed  for  my  gratification.  Nurse 
bought  me  a  little  pair  of  brass  candlesticks,  about  three 
'  inches  high,  and  her  son  employed  his  leisure  in  contri- 
ving moulds,  and  making  candles  small  enough  to  fit 
them.  These  were  reckoned  great  curiosities  among 
my  little  acquaintance ;  and  I  was  kindly  supplied  with 
them  from  time  to  time,  as  long  as  I  continued  to  take 
pleasure  in  such  childish  things.  The  young  printer 
furnished  me  with  labels  on  coloured  paper,  neatly  bor- 
dered and  printed,  for  pasting  in  my  books.  I  felt  no 
small  degree  of  astonishment  and  pleasure  at  seeing  my 
own  name  printed,  and  that,  not  once  or  twice  only,  but 
at  least  on  fifty  different  pieces  of  paper.  I  had  no  idea 
of  the  operation  of  printing,  and  supposed  it  must  have 
been  a  work  of  immense  labour.  The  only  way  in  which 
I  could  imagine  it  might  be  performed,  was  that  of  first 
making  a  pattern,  which  I  supposed  the  lad  had  obtained 
of  his  master,  and  then  multiplying  copies  by  holding  the 
original  to  the  window,  and  drawing  each  copy  sepa- 
rately on  a  paper  held  over  it. 

Soon  after  this,  my  father  brought  home  two  copies 
of  Watts's  Psalms  and  Hymns  ;  I  was  very  much  struck 
with  the  exact  resemblance,  and  carefully  examined  a 
great  many  pages  to  see  whether  they  began  and  ended 
alike  in  both  books  ;  and  entertained  a  most  exalted  idea 
of  the  skill,  care,  and  patience,  that  could  produce  so 
exact  an  imitation.  As  I  came  frequently  to  see  seve- 
ral copies  of  books  and  pictures,  and  to  observe  their 
exact  similarity,  I  was  mightily  puzzled  to  account  for 
it.  -  The  first  correct  idea  I  formed  of  the  nature  of 
3 


26  THE     GIRL'S     BOOK. 

printing,  was  from  observing  the  cook,  by  means  of  a 
metal  machine  called  a  paste-cutter,  produce  as  many 
ornaments  as  she  required  for  her  pastry,  exactly  the 
same  in  size,  shape,  and  pattern.  This  led  me  to  think 
that  books  and  pictures  might  be  multiplied  somewhat 
in  the  same  manner,  and  I  often  wished  I  could  see 
nurse's  son,  to  ask  him  about  it ;  but  as  I  never  had  an 
opportunity  of  doing  so,  I  exercised  my  own  specula- 
tions on  the  subject,  and  once  got  into  sad  trouble  for 
inking  my  frock  and  fingers,  by  having  dipped  the  said 
paste-cutter  in  ink,  to  try  whether  I  could  transfer  its 
pattern  to  paper.  My  tools  and  materials  not  being  at 
all  adapted  to  the  purpose,  you  may  suppose  that  no 
great  success  attended  the  experiment.  When  at  school, 
I  learned  a  little  more  about  printing  by  means  of  an  in- 
genious play  which  my  governess  contrived  for  our 
amusement  on  rainy  days. 

Agnes.  Well,  mamma,  I  am  really  glad  that  you 
sometimes  got  into  trouble  with  touching  ink.  I  should 
never  have  thought  of  your  being  meddlesome  and  mis- 
chievous.    Was  your  mother  very  angry  with  you  ? 

Mother.  My  mother  was  from  home,  and  had  no- 
thing to  do  with  it.  My  eldest  sister,  who  had  the  prin- 
cipal management  of  me,  was  very  angry.  She  was 
taking  out  the  ink  spots  with  salts  of  lemon,  and  blaming 
me  very  severely,  when  an  elderly  lady  called  in.  My 
sister  told  her  what  I  had  done,  and  asked  her  advice  as 
to  the  punishment  that  should  be  inflicted.  "  0,"  said 
the  old  lady,  "  do  not  punish  her  at  all ;  she  did  not  in- 
tend ta  do  any  thing  naughty.  You  should  rather  en- 
deavour to  encourage  her  in  finding  out  things  ;  and  only 
teach  her  to  ask  leave  before  she  touches  any  thing  that 
is  not  her  own,  or  of  which  she  does  not  understand  the 


A     DISTINCTION.  27 

properties  :  an  idle  child  is  better  than  a  lazy  one."  My 
sister  looked  as  if  she  did  not  clearly  understand  the  old 
lady's  distinction,  or  perceive  its  reference  to  the  present 
case,  which  the  lady  observing,  continued,  —  "  Perhaps 
you  call  the  same  things  by  different  names  here ;  but 
we,  in  Hampshire,  call  a  child  lazy  who  is  unwilling  to 
do  any  thing  —  work,  play,  or  think?  Such  a  child  we 
regard  as  almost  a  hopeless  character ;  but  we  call  a  child 
idle  who  is  active  enough  both  in  body  and  mind,  but 
active  in  its  own  way  rather  than  in  the  straight-forward 
course  prescribed  for  it.  This  child,  in  its  activity,  may 
do  some  mischief,  which  we  call  idleness  ;  but  it  is  only 
necessary  to  regulate  its  activity,  which  may  generally 
be  done  by  reasoning,  and  other  gentle  methods,  and  we 
may  hope  that  the  subject  of  it  may  become  a  useful  and 
a  shining  character."  The  Hampshire  distinction  fixed 
itself  firmly  in  my  mind,  not  merely  as  having  saved  me 
from  impending  punishment,  on  that  particular  occasion, 
but  as  inducing  my  sister  to  look  with  a  rather  more  in- 
dulgent eye  on  those  childish  freaks  which  sometimes 
occasioned  inconvenience,  but  of  which  she  observed 
that  there  was  "  meaning  in  the  mischief."  The  remark 
certainly  was  useful,  as  fixing  in  my  mind  a  settled  ab- 
horrence of  laziness  ;  but  I  am  almost  afraid  that  it  led 
to  self-complacent  thoughts,  and  often  became  an  excuse 
to  myself  when  I  neglected  the  employment  given  me 
by  my  friends,  to  set  about  something  of  my  own  inven- 
tion, —  "  Well,  I  am  not  a  lazy  child,  only  idle,  and  there 
is  hope  that  I  may  become  a  useful  and  shining  charac- 
ter." As  I  grew  up,  I  was  continually  perceiving  the 
importance  of  one  remark  of  the  old  lady's,  which  at  first 
I  was  too  much  disposed  to  overlook  —  that  activity  of 
disposition  requires  regulation,  to  render  the  character 
useful  as  well  as  shining.     You,  my  dear  girls,  I  hope, 


2b  THE     GIRL'S    BOOK. 

will  remember  this ;  and  while  you  cannot  too  ardently 
abhor  the  character  of  laziness,  which  makes  a  human 
being  like  a  swine,  do  not  forget  that  ill-directed  activity 
only  resembles  the  mischief  of  a  monkey,  or  a  magpie. 
It  belongs  to  well-directed  and  well-regulated  activity 
alone,  to  effect  works  of  real  utility,  and  establish  a  cha- 
racter of  real  excellence.  Who  would  not  rather  emu- 
late the  bee  or  the  beaver,  than  the  monkey  or  the  mag- 
pie 1  and  yet  we  ought  not  to  find  fault  with  brute  ani- 
mals, since  they  correctly  follow  their  natural  instincts, 
and  the  evident  design  of  their  formation.  But  as  the 
habits  of  animals  are  often  employed  as  emblems  of  cer- 
tain dispositions  which  in  rational  beings  always  assume 
a  moral  character,  we  may  very  properly  take  hints  from 
them  as  to  the  cultivation  of  good  and  useful  habits. 

At  this  time  company  came  in,  and  the  conversation 
between  my  young  friends  and  myself  was  broken  off. 
Perhaps  the  reader  also  will  close  the  book  for  the  pre- 
sent, and  think  a  little  of  the  circumstances  of  her  infant 
days,  of  the  mercy  of  God  in  bestowing  on  her  kind  pa- 
rents, and  careful  nurses,  and  pious  instructers ;  in  pre- 
serving her  through  the  perils  of  infancy,  in  raising  her 
up  from  sickness,  and  in  thus  far  leading  her  safely  on 
towards  maturity.  If,  as  I  hope,  she  is  familiar  with  her 
Bible,  it  is  possible  that  some  such  passages  as  these 
may  present  themselves  to  her  mind.  "  Bless  the  Lord, 
O  my  soul!  and  all  that  is  within  me  bless  his  holy 
name !  Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul,  and  forget  not  all 
his  benefits  !"  "  What  shall  I  render  unto  the  Lord  for 
all  his  benefits  ?"  She  will  also  probably  look  back  to 
the  infancy  and  childhood  of  the  blessed  Jesus  ;  and  ex- 
amining her  own  heart  and  conduct,  will  inquire  whether 
she,  like  Him,  in  early  youth  is  "  growing  in  wisdom  and 
in  stature,  and  in  favour  both  with  God  and  man." 


CHAPTER    II. 


ONE    THING   AT   A   TIME.  —  WORKING   PARTIES.  —  SOCIETY    AND    SOLITUDE. — 

AN   ONLY    CHILD.  —  MUSIC.  —  DELICATE     HEALTH. OVER    INDULGENCE. — 

SCHOOL  REGULARITY.  — WASTE.  —  PROFANITY. —  GLUTTONY. —  NICK-NAMES. 
—  TRIFLING  WITH  THE  WORDS  OF  SCRIPTURE.  —  A  FOOLISH  WISH.  —  DAVID 
DALE.  —  THE  SCOTCH  CLERGYMAN.  —  UNJUST  SUSPICIONS. — THE  BED  OT 
TULIPS.  —  STRIPED  GRASS.  —  THE  BACHELOR'S  PRESENT.         THE  UNIVERSAL 

SPELLING    BOOK.  —  THE    TWELVE  WONDERS. SIS  YEARS  OLD.  —  DOLLS. — 

MEDDLING  PUNISHED. 


During  school  vacations,  I  think  it  right  that  regular 
employments  should  not  be  wholly  laid  aside  ;  I  there- 
fore accustom  my  little  girls  to  refresh  their  memories 
in  the  various  branches  of  literary  pursuit  in  which  they 
are  engaged  when  at  school,  and  each  morning  they  sit 
an  hour  with  me  at  needlework.  On  these  occasions 
they  have  sometimes  begged  me  to  proceed  with  my 
story,  assuring  me  that  it  would  not  at  all  interfere  with 
their  application;  Emily,  indeed,  feeling  quite  certain 
that  she  should  get  on  with  her  work  as  fast  again.     I 


30  THE     GIRL'S     BOOK. 

had  my  doubts  on  this  point ;  and,  as  the  result  proved 
that  the  work  that  morning  was  sadly  slighted,  we  agreed 
that  in  future  the  story  should  be  confined  to  a  few  lei- 
sure minutes,  either  at  dusk,  or  at  the  tea-table.  My 
girls  desire  me  to  record  their  full  concession,  that  one 
thing  at  a  time  is  likely  to  be  best  attended  to,  and  that 
however  much  they  may  have  wished  to  enjoy  an  enter- 
taining story  while  engaged  at  needle -work,  they  have 
found  that  while  their  attention  was  diverted,  either  the 
work  has  gone  on  slowly,  or  the  stitches  have  been  care- 
less and  uneven,  or  some  mistake  has  occurred  which 
rendered  it  necessary  to  pick  out  the  whole,  and  do  it 
again.  These  remarks  do  not  altogether  apply  to  the 
practice  of  one  person  reading  aloud  some  interesting 
and  instructive  book,  while  several  are  engaged  with 
their  needles.  I  would  beg,  however,  to  suggest,  that 
where  this  plan  is  adopted,  there  should  be  a  fine  for 
speaking,  except  it  be  to  request  an  explanation  of  what 
is  read.  These  fines  might  go  towards  the  purchase  of 
books,  or  of  materials  for  working ;  but  the  reader  ought 
not  to  be  disturbed,  nor  the  attention  of  the  company 
diverted,  by  a  bustle  about  needles,  cotton,  or  scissors, 
or  by  one  young  lady  exhibiting  to  another  the  progress 
of  her  work,  —  especially  by  tittering  across  the  table  ; 
all  which  rudenesses  are  sometimes  practised  in  a  work- 
ing and  reading  party. 

The  next  time  my  girls  had  their  young  friends  to  see 
them,  having  amused  themselves  according  to  their  va- 
rious tastes,  as  the  day  began  to  draw  in,  and  they  saw 
me  seal  a  letter  and  close  my  desk,  one  of  them  came 
and  whispered  to  me  in  the  name  of  the  rest,  "  Now, 
Mrs.  White,  would  it  be  convenient  to  have  us  come 
and  sit  with  you  a  little  1  and  can  you  spare  us  a  good 


WORKING    PARTIES.  31 

long  evening?"  They  were  soon  seated  round  me,  and 
Emily  remarked,  "  Mamma,  I  have  often  thought  of 
asking,  who  were  your  play-fellows  when  you  were 
little  ?M 

Mother.  Perhaps  few  children  have  had  fewer  play- 
fellows than  myself.  Besides  those  who  died,  I  had 
only  two  sisters,  one  of  whom  was  grown  up  when  I  was 
born,  and  the  other  was  at  school ;  so  I  was  brought  up 
almost  like  an  only  child.  Two  cousins,  who  lived 
near  us,  were  my  only  companions  ;  we  drank  tea  with 
each  other  alternately,  once  a  week,  or  once  a  fortnight, 
I  forget  which. 

Agnes.  And  pray,  mamma,  which  do  you  think  best 
for  children,  —  to  be  brought  up  alone,  or  to  have  plenty 
of  companions? 

JVEother.  I  really  can  hardly  answer  your  question  : 
every  situation  has  its  peculiar  advantages,  and  its  pe- 
culiar temptations  and  trials.  Among  my  advantages,  I 
may  reckon  a  habit  of  being  contented  alone  ;  and,  ac- 
customed to  rely  on  my  own  resources  both  for  amuse- 
ment and  improvement,  I  have  never  known  what  it  is  to 
feel  dull  for  want  of  company  ;  and  whatever  inquiry  has 
at  any  time  presented  itself  to  my  mind,  I  have  been 
used  to  think  it  out  for  myself,  which  is,  on  the  whole, 
a  very  beneficial  exercise,  though,  perhaps,  a  vast  deal 
of  time  has  been  needlessly  spent  in  hunting  out  a  bit 
of  knowledge  which  five  minutes'  reading  would  have 
put  me  in  possession  of,  had  a  companion,  more  familiar 
than  myself  with  books,  been  at  hand,  at  once  to  refer 
me  to  it.  Having  no  companions,  I  was  free  from  the 
influence  of  bad  example  ;  but  then  I  was  alike  destitute 
of  the  stimulus  of  good  example.  I  was  under  no  temp- 
tation to  quarrel ;  but  I  had  not  the  wholesome  exercise 


32  THE     GIRL'S     BOOK. 

of  forbearance  and  forgiveness.  Being  always  surround- 
ed with  persons  in  every  respect  far  my  superiors,  I  had 
no  notion  of  setting  up  claims  of  my  own ;  but  then  I 
was  upon  a  disadvantage  when  I  came  among  school 
companions,  and  endured  rather  more  than  my  share  of 
oppression.  However,  as  I  went  to  school  young,  it 
can  hardly  be  said  that  I  had  all  the  advantages  or  dis- 
advantages of  either  mode. 

JMaria.  Do  not  you  think,  Mrs.  White,  that  it  is  a 
misfortune  to  be  an  only  child  1 

Mother.  My  dear  girl,  as  all  our  circumstances  are 
under  the  wise  and  kind  appointment  of  our  heavenly 
Father,  they  ought  not  to  be  called  misfortunes.  As  I 
have  before  remarked,  every  situation  has  its  peculiar 
trials,  and  certainly  that  of  an  only  child  has  many. 

JWaria.  I  would  give  the  world  if  I  had  brothers  and 
sisters ;  not,  I  am  sure,  but  what  my  dear  papa  and 
rrjamma  are  as  kind  to  me  as  possible,  —  but  yet  that  is 
not  like  having  a  companion  of  one's  own  age.  If  I 
had  a  sister,  perhaps  she  might  be  fond  of  music,  and 
play  well,  which  would  please  papa;  he  is  so  very  anx- 
ious for  me  to  be  a  proficient  in  music.  He  spares  no 
time  or  expense,  either  in  master,  instruments,  or  books  ; 
and  yet  I  feel  sure  that  I  never  shall  excel  in  it.  I  take 
pains  because  I  know  papa  wishes  it,  but  I  have  no 
other  pleasure  in  it ;  therefore  it  is  not  likely  that  I  shall 
ever  be  able  to  meet  his  wishes.  Now  is  not  that  a 
trial,  Mrs.  White  ? 

Now  my  own  judgement  and  feelings  said  that  it  was 
a  trial,  and  a  very  unnecessary  one  ;  I  regretted  that  the 
excellent  father  of  Maria  should  carry  his  fondness  for 
music  so  far  as  to  make  such  heavy  sacrifices  of  time, 


MUSIC.  33 

money,  and  feeling,  in  an  accomplishment  which  never 
will  be  attained  by  his  child  ;  who,  though  a  girl  of 
good  abilities  and  amiable  disposition,  and  with  a  sincere 
desire  to  gratify  the  wishes  of  her  parent,  is  destitute  of 
a  natural  taste  for  that  acquirement  on  which  he  lays  so 
much  stress.  I  wished  that  he  might  be  induced  to  re- 
linquish the  vain  attempt,  and  direct  his  attention,  and 
that  of  Maria,  to  some  more  attainable  pursuit.  How- 
ever, as  I  always  make  it  a  point  not  to  utter  a  reflec- 
tion on  the  judgement  and  conduct  of  parents  in  the  pre- 
sence of  their  children,  I  was  rather  glad  that  two  others, 
each  of  whom  is  an  only  child,  pressed  forward  to  men- 
tion what  they  considered  the  great  trial  attendant  on 
that  circumstance.  Harriet,  a  beautiful  and  highly  ac- 
complished girl,  whose  education  has  been  conducted  at 
home  under  a  first- rate  governess,  from  a  very  early  pe- 
riod, to  the  age  of  sixteen,  could  not  at  all  understand 
any  thing  like  difficulty  in  playing  as  much  as  might  be 
gratifying  to  her  friends ;  "  but,"  said  she,  "  being  an 
only  child,  my  dear  parents  are  so  exceedingly  anxious 
about  my  health,  that  I  fear  their  own  is  frequently  sacri- 
ficed to  solicitude  for  me.  Every  change  in  the  weather 
alarms  them  on  my  account ;  and  if  I  go  from  home  for 
a  few  days,  or  even  hours,  they  are  quite  distressed  lest 
I  should  take  cold,  or  lest  some  accident  should  befall 
me.  I  have  often  been  ready  to  wish  that  this  intense 
anxiety  had  been  diverted  into  several  channels,  instead 
of  being  centred  in  one.  They  often  say,  if  they  should 
lose  me,  they  lose  their  all." 

Mother.  Well,  my  dear  girl,  I  trust  it  is  your  con- 
stant solicitude,  as  far  as  possible,  to  requite  their  ten- 
derness, and  to  prove  to  them  that  they  have  not  over- 
valued the  one  beloved  object  in  which  all  their  worldly 


34  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

treasure  seems  concentrated ;  and,  besides  this  very 
obvious  lesson  of  dutiful  return,  the  extreme  anxiety  of 
parents,  on  account  of  an  only  child,  may  serve  as  an 
example  of  the  intense  interest  with  which  the  immortal 
soul  should  be  regarded.  We  have  each  but  one  soul ; 
and  how  awful  will  it  be  if  that  should  be  lost !  Surely 
we  ought  to  take  as  much  care  for  our  soul's  eternal 
welfare,  as  the  most  tender  parent  can  take  for  the  tem- 
poral safety  and  interests  of  a  darling  only  child.  My 
dear  young  friends,  I  hope  not  one  of  you  will  live  in 
neglect  of  your  soul;  or  that  you  will  ever  be  satisfied 
till  you  have  committed  it  to  the  care  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
that  gracious  Friend  of  sinners. 

This  sentiment  cast  a  momentary  solemnity  over  the 
young  circle.  Concerning  some  of  them,  I  indulge  the 
pleasing  hope  that  they  are  seriously  concerned  to  know 
what  they  must  do  to  be  saved ;  and  I  observe,  that  any 
allusion  to  religious  subjects  always  excites  a  look  of 
most  fixed  attention,  and  grateful  pleasure.  They  seem 
eager  to  catch  and  treasure  up  every  remark  on  a  sub- 
ject of  which  they  have  learned  in  some  degree  to  esti- 
mate the  importance.  This  is  truly  pleasing  to  friends 
concerned  about  their  best  interests. 

After  a  moment's  pause,  Ann  resumed  the  conversa- 
tion. She,  too,  is  an  only  child  ;  and  observed  that  the 
extreme  tenderness  and  indulgence  to  which  she  had 
been  accustomed  at  home,  made  her  feel  the  regularity 
and  strict  discipline  of  school  to  be  hardships.  At  first, 
indeed,  she  thought  she  should  be  quite  miserable,  and 
had  resolved  on  entreating  her  parents  to  remove  her ; 
but  having  written  a  pitiful  letter  to  that  effect,  she 
learned  from  one  of  her  companions,  that  they  were  not 
allowed  to  send  letters  without  the  express  permission  of 


OVERINDULGENCE.  35 

their  governess.  This,  at  the  moment,  was  felt  as  an 
additional  grievance  ;  but  the  uncomfortable  feeling,  in- 
duced by  change,  had  gradually  worn  off;  and  now  she 
must  confess,  she  was  much  better  in  health,  and  more 
contented  and  cheerful,  than  amidst  the  unrestrained  in- 
dulgence of  home,  and  only  regretted  that  she  had  not 
been  sent  to  school  much  earlier.  Still,  however,  she 
did  long  for  the  holidays,  once  more  to  see  her  own  dear 
home  ;  and  hoped  she  should  not  be  unfitted  for  school 
duties  on  her  return.  Ann  wished  to  know  at  what  age 
I  went  first  to  school,  and  whether  I  was  taught  needle- 
work at  school,  or  at  home. 

Mother.  My  sisters  taught  me  a  little  at  home  ;  be- 
sides which,  I  sometimes  went,  by  way  of  a  treat,  to 
spend  a  day  at  the  school  where  my  second  sister  had 
been  brought  up,  and  where  I  was  afterwards  placed.  I 
was  then  but  a  plaything  for  the  elder  girls ;  however, 
one  and  another  taught  me  a  little,  and  I  was  pleased  in 
attempting  to  imitate  what  I  saw,  and  looked  forward 
with  high  delight  to  the  period  of  attaining  my  sixth 
year,  when,  among  other  objects  of  hope  and  desire,  I 
was  to  go  to  school  as  a  regular  scholar. 

Rose.  I  came  to  school  when  I  was  six  years  old. 
I  am  glad  I  was  just  the  same  age  as  you ;  and  pray, 
ma'am,  at  what  age  did  you  leave  school  ? 

Sophia.  0  !  that  is  a  long  long  time  to  come  yet ;  I 
hope  Mrs.  White  will  remember  a  great  many  things 
that  happened  while  she  was  at  school. 

Emily.  And  some  that  happened  before  she  went  to 
school,  are  there  not,  mamma  1 

Mother.  Not  many  that  are  worth  mentioning.  I 
remember  forming  very  odd  ideas  of  different  persons 
who  came  to  our  house,  and  sometimes  got  into  trouble 


36  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

for  saying  very  odd  things  to  them.  I  seldom  remem- 
bered proper  names,  and  used  to  describe  persons  by 
something  I  had  seen  or  heard  of  them.  I  had  been 
told  never  to  waste  any  thing  ;  and  that  those  who  waste 
generally  come  to  want.  A  lady  was  walking  in  our 
garden,  and  eating  fruit.  I  observed  that  she  threw 
down  the  gooseberry  hulls,  and  I  said  to  her,  "  Ma'am, 
I  am  afraid  you  will  live  to  want  a  gooseberry  hull." 
The  lady  kindly  excused  my  childish  simplicity,  and  told 
me  that  the  hulls  of  gooseberries  disagreed  with  people, 
therefore  it  was  less  waste  to  throw  them  away  than  to 
eat  them,  and  make  herself  ill.  I  called  her —  "  The 
lady  who  throws  away  gooseberry  hulls."  Two  gentle- 
men came  in  unexpectedly  to  dinner  with  my  parents. 
My  parents  were  always  kind  and  hospitable  ;  but  I  ob- 
served that  these  visiters  were  not  received  with  so  cor- 
dial a  welcome  as  many  others  ;  and  I  fancied  there 
was  something  in  their  manners  and  habits  as  disagree- 
able to  my  parents  as  myself.  The  moment  they  en- 
tered the  parlour,  one  of  them  seized  me  in  his  arms,  and 
jumped  me  almost  up  to  the  ceiling,  to  my  great  terror 
and  disgust ;  at  the  same  time  exclaiming,  "  JVLon  Dhu  ! 
qu'une  jille  charmante  /"  I  no  sooner  reached  the 
ground  in  safety,  than  I  made  my  escape  from  his  rough 
grasp,  and  would  scarcely  be  persuaded  to  venture  in  to 
dinner.  Then,  however,  I  had  leisure  to  contemplate 
both  him  and  his  companion  ;  and  observed  that  almost 
every  sentence  spoken  by  the  former,  was  mixed  with 
expressions  which  I  had  not  been  accustomed  to  hear ; 
and  that  the  latter  was  characterised  by  a  remarkably 
plump  red  face,  and  a  corresponding  capacity  of  sto- 
mach ;  and  that  he  spoke  in  such  raptures  of  every  thing 
of  which  he  partook,  as  if  he  thought  that  all  the  happi- 


IRREVERENCE GLUTTONY.  37 

ness  of  life  consisted  in  eating  and  drinking.  I  did  not 
hear  any  remarks  made  on  these  gentlemen  at  the  time, 
but  some  months  afterwards  I  heard  my  father  inform 
my  mother  that  he  should  bring  home  two  gentlemen  to 
dine  with  him.  I  said  to  him,  "  0,  papa,  I  hope  it  is 
not  the  rude  gentleman  who  says  wicked  words  in 
French,  and  the  great  gentleman  with  two  chins,  who 
eats  so  much."  My  papa  took  me  on  his  knee,  and 
said,  "  No,  my  dear  ;  I  never  invite  those  gentlemen  to 
visit  us.  I  do  not  like  to  talk  about  persons  who  have 
been  at  the  house  ;  but  if  ever  you  think  of  them,  you 
should  pity  them.     It  is  a  sad  thing  not  to  have  been 

taught  to  fear  God  from  one's  youth.   I  fear  Mr.  L 

has  no  idea  of  praying  to  God  ;  and  that  in  common 
conversation,  he  utters  the  sacred  name  without  evei 
thinking  about  it.  It  is  a  sad  thing,  too,  to  be  a  glut- 
ton." "  Papa,  what  is  a  glutton  V1  I  inquired.  He  re- 
plied, "  It  is  one  who  takes  too  much  pleasure  in  eating 
and  drinking.  Such  a  person  makes  himself  disgust- 
ing and  contemptible  in  society ;  and  also  commits  sin 
against  God,  who  bestows  on  us  food  to  nourish  us  and 
fit  us  for  our  duty,  but  not  that  we  should  eat  to  excess, 
and  make  ourselves  stupid  and  useless.  Take  care,  my 
little  girl,  that  you  do  not  get  too  fond  of  cakes,  fruit,  and 
pastry,  lest  you  should  grow  up  as  disagreeable  as  Mr. 

."     Not  long  after  this,  I  heard  that  Mr. 

was  dead,  and  that  the  doctor  said,  "  If  any  man  ever 
dug  his  grave  with  his  teeth,  he  did."  I  wondered  what 
this  could  mean  ;  and  was  informed  that  persons  who 
accustom  themselves  to  eat  and  drink  more  than  is  good 
for  them,  often  bring  themselves  into  diseases  which 
doctors  cannot  cure,  and  so  hurry  themselves  to  the 
grave.     "  Now,"  said  my  father,  "  do  not  let  us  talk 


38  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

any  more  about  poor  Mr. ;  but  take  care  that 

you  are  never  a  glutton."  I  do  not  recollect  that  his 
name  was  ever  again  mentioned  at  our  house ;  but  his 
bloated  appearance,  disgusting  manners,  and  premature 
death,  often  presented  themselves  to  my  mind  when  the 
pastry-cook,  who  visited  our  school  twice  a  week,  stood 
at  the  door  with  her  tempting  basket. 

My  father,  one  Sunday  evening,  read  a  sermon  on  the 
words,  "  And  Pharaoh  said  unto  Jacob,  How  old  art 
thou1?"  I  am  afraid  I  did  not  attend  much  to  the  in- 
struction conveyed,  or  it  would  have  set  me  thinking 
that  I  was  old  enough  to  be  much  better,  and  that  I 
ought  to  be  diligently  improving  my  time  ;  but  the  words 
of  the  text  seemed  to  jingle  in  my  ears,  and  I  addressed 
it  to  one  and  another  whom  I  met  with.  There  was  a 
man  in  the  habit  of  calling  to  sell  pork.  He  stammered 
in  his  speech,  and  was  commonly  called  "  Old  Hubble 
Bubble."  One  day  when  he  called,  a  servant  came  in, 
and  said,  "Old  Hubble  Bubble  is  come,  ma'am,  to 
know  if  you  will  buy  a  pig."  While  my  mamma  was 
giving  orders  to  the  servant,  one  of  my  sisters  said  to  the 
other,  "  We  call  him  old,  but  I  don't  think  he  is  very 
old."  "  No,"  replied  my  other  sister,  "  I  should  not 
take  him  to  be  more  than  forty."  I  took  the  hint ;  and, 
unperceived,  slipping  into  the  hall  where  the  poor  man 
was  waiting,  very  foolishly  addressed  him  by  his  nick- 
name, in  the  words  of  the  text  which  had  so  fixed  them- 
selves in  my  memory.  As  may  be  supposed,  he  was 
greatly  offended,  and  began  stammering  and  sputtering 
at  a  great  rate.  My  father  happened  just  then  to  come 
in,  and  inquired  what  was  the  matter.  He  apologized 
to  the  man,  and  soon  put  an  end  to  the  altercation  ;  but 
afterwards  took  me  alone,  and  told  me  that  it  was  very 


NICK- NAMES.  39 

wrong  to  call  persons  out  of  their  proper  names ;  espe- 
cially to  miscal  them  on  account  of  any  personal  defect 
or  imperfection,  which  was  trouble  enough  to  bear,  with- 
out exposing  the  person  to  mockery  and  ridicule.  My 
father  spoke  in  a  similar  manner  both  to  my  sisters  and 
the  servants  ;  and  remarked  how  silly  it  was,  even 
through  mere  thoughtlessness,  to  adopt  a  nick-name, 
which  might,  in  so  unexpected  a  manner,  be  carried 
home,  and  wound  the  feelings  of  the  individual.  He 
desired  it  might  never  be  repeated  in  his  house ;  and 
told  me  that  next  time  the  pork-man  came,  I  was  to  ask 
him  what  was  his  right  name,  and  beg  him  to  forgive  me 
for  the  mistake  I  had  made.  He  readily  forgave  me, 
and  told  me  his  name  was  John  Stacey.  As  I  had  often 
seen  nosegays  in  his  basket,  and  we  had  fine  flowers  in 
great  variety,  I  asked  if  the  gardener  might  gather  some 
for  him  ;  permission  was  granted,  and  I  had  the  pleasure 
of  presenting  him  with  several  fine  nosegays,  which  he 
thankfully  accepted,  saying  that  the  money  he  got  for 
his  nosegays  paid  for  putting  his  little  boy  and  girl  to 
school.  Poor  John  Stacey!  I  often  reproached  my- 
self for  having  unintentionally  hurt  his  feelings ;  but  he 
freely  forgave  me ;  and  every  week  when  he  called, 
used  to  stammer  out,  "  I  hope  little  Miss  is  well."  My 
father  too?  the  same  opportunity  of  telling  me  that  I 
ought  not  to  take  any  phrase  of  Scripture  that  I  heard  or 
read,  and  apply  it  in  common  conversation.  He  very 
justly  observed  that  most  likely  it  was  the  temptation  of 
applying  the  phrase  which  I  happened  to  recollect,  from 
the  sermon,  that  led  me  so  readily  to  go  and  speak  to  the 

poor  man ;  "  and  perhaps,"  added  he,  "  Mr.  L , 

whom  you  so  much  disliked,  got  a  habit,  when  a  child, 
of  using  the  words  of  Scripture  in  a  thoughtless  irreve- 


40 


THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 


rent  way,  and  so  went  on,  from  step  to  step,  till  he  became 
so  awfully  profane  in  his  conversation."  I  hope  my 
dear  young  friends  will  remember  these  hints  ;  and  if 
ever  they  should  be  tempted  to  use  the  words  of  Scrip- 
ture in  a  light  way,  that  they  will  consider,  that  though 
there  might  be  wit  in  so  doing,  there  is  both  wisdom  and 
safety  in  letting  it  alone. 

One  woman  who  came  to  our  house,  I  distinguished 
as  "  the  woman  who  loves  money :"  this  originated  in 
my  having  heard  her  say,  when  my  mamma  questioned 
whether  a  half-crown  given  in  change  were  a  good  one, 
"  Oh  yes,  ma'am,  good  enough  ;  I  wish  I  had  my  back 
broken  with  them."  This  was  only  a  silly  saying  of  the 
woman :  she  had  no  such  wish.  What  good  would 
money  do  her  if  she  got  her  death  in  acquiring  it  1  But 
those  whose  hearts  are  set  upon  either  money  or  plea- 
sure, often  do  things  quite  as  foolish  as  this  woman's 
wish  :  they  break  their  hearts,  or  break  their  consciences, 
or  break  the  peace  and  comfort  of  their  family,  and  en- 
danger their  precious  souls  for  that  which  cannot  profit 
them.  "  They  that  ivill  be  rich,  fall  into  temptation, 
and  a  snare,  and  into  many  foolish  and  hurtful  lusts, 
which  drown  men  in  destruction  and  perdition." 

The  two  gentlemen  who  came  to  dine  at  xmr  house, 
when  I  was  afraid  of  seeing  those  whomTt  disliked, 
proved  to  be  of  a  very  different  stamp.  One  of  them 
was  the  head  of  an  extensive  manufacturing  and  mer- 
cantile establishment  in  Scotland,  and  the  other  a  pious 
clergyman,  who  had  originally  come  from  the  same 
neighbourhood,  but  was  then  living  near  London.  Their 
dialect  rather  puzzled  me ;  but  though  I  could  not  un- 
derstand many  of  their  words,  I  could  make  out  that  they 
were  kind-hearted  men,  trying  to  do  good  to  those  around 


UNJUST    SUSPICIONS.  41 

them.  David  Dale  (for  that  was  the  name  of  the  for- 
mer) took  me  on  his  knee,  and  mentioning  several  emi- 
nent characters  of  Scripture,  asked  me  what  I  knew 
about  them.  He  told  me  of  answers  given  by  little  boys 
and  girls  in  his  Sunday  Schools.  I  think  he  had  several 
hundreds  under  his  care ;  "  and,"  said  he,  "  I  call  them 
all  my  children.  When  I  think  they  are  good  children, 
I  am  happy,  but  if  any  of  them  are  naughty,  they  grieve 
me.  I  hope  and  believe  that  some  of  my  little  ones  have 
gone  to  heaven  before  me,  and  there  are  others  who  I 
hope  will  follow  me  there,  having  first  been  useful  on 
earth.  And,  my  dear  little  girl,"  continued  he,  "  I  hope 
you  may  be  spared  to  be  a  great  comfort  to  your  dear 
parents,  and  to  follow  the  example  of  those  holy  women 
of  whom  you  have  been  taught  to  read  in  Scripture. 
Which  will  you  be,  —  Hannah,  who,  when  she  was  in 
trouble,  sought  comfort  in  prayer?  or  JWartha,  who 
loved  to  wait  upon  Christ?  or  Mary,  who  sat  at  his  feet, 
and  heard  his  words  ?  or  Dorcas,  who  worked  for  the 
poor  1  or  Priscilla,  who  was  a  kind  friend  to  the  minis- 
ters of  Christ  X  God  Almighty  bless  you,  my  child,  and 
make  you  like  them  all."  I  often  thought  of  the  good 
old  man's  words,  and  spoke  of  him  as  the  gentleman 
ivho  loves  little  children.  I  saw  him  several  times  after- 
wards, for  he  was  on  terms  of  intimacy  with  my  father, 
and  frequently  visited  at  our  house.  As  I  grew  up,  and 
became  more  capable  of  appreciating  his  character,  I 
looked  back  upon  it  as  one  of  the  honours  and  privileges 
of  my  childhood  that  I  had  shared  his  affections  and 
prayers.  The  Scotch  clergyman  also  frequently  came 
to  our  house,  and  was  very  kind  to  me.  He  once 
brought  me  a  little  book,  containing  Addison's  Hymn  on 
Gratitude,  Dr.  Watts's  Paraphrase  of  the  104th  Psalm, 
4* 


42  THE    GIRL'S    BOOE. 

Adam  and  Eve's  Morning  Hymn  from  Milton,  and  the 
Day  of  Judgement,  from  Young.  He  taught  me  to  read 
and  recite  blank  verse  ;  and  when  I  had  committed  these 
pieces  to  memory,  gave  me  a  curious  gold  coin  as  a 
keepsake,  which  I  kept  many  years,  but  at  last  it  was 
stolen  with  some  other  valuable  trinkets. 

Emily.  0,  mamma,  how  much  you  must  have  grieved 
after  that,  especially  if  the  good  clergyman  was  dead ! 

Mother.  Yes,  Emily,  he  was  dead  ;  and  I  certainly 
was  grieved,  both  to  lose  a  number  of  family  things,  on 
which  I  set  a  high  value,  but  still  more  to  think  of  the 
guilt  of  the  person  who  took  them. 

Agnes,  Mamma,  did  you  ever  find  out  who  took 
them'? 

Mother.  I  had  very  strong  grounds  of  suspicion ; 
but  we  cannot  be  too  careful  of  accusing  any  one,  of 
whose  guilt  we  have  not  the  fullest  evidence.  This 
caution  was  impressed  on  me  in  early  childhood,  by  the 
following  circumstance  :  —  The  minister,  on  whom  we 
attended,  was  hastily  summoned  to  see  his  daughter, 
who  was  taken  alarmingly  ill,  while  on  a  visit.  We  hap- 
pened to  be  taking  tea  at  their  house  when  the  summons 
arrived  ;  and  my  sisters  immediately  assisted  in  packing 
up  the  things  for  their  journey.  My  eldest  sister  had  a 
very  handsome  and  expensive  pair  of  scissors  in  a  silver 
sheath,  which  that  evening  disappeared,  and  could  no 
where  be  found :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  had  a  strong  suspi- 
cion that  their  servant  had  taken  them,  and  were,  in 
consequence,  quite  uncomfortable  in  leaving  her  in  the 
care  of  the  house,  during  their  absence.  Soon  after 
their  return,  she  left  them.  Whether  or  not  the  suspi- 
cion had  been  mentioned,  the  poor  girl  found  a  great 
difficulty  in  getting  a  place,  and  at  last  was  almost  com- 


THEBEDOFTULIPS.  43 

pelled  to  live  at  a  public  house,  which  proved  a  most 
unhappy  situation  for  her  in  every  respect.  About  three 
years  afterwards  her  innocence  was  cleared  in  a  singular 
manner.  Mr.  W.  was  liable  to  attacks  of  the  gout; 
and  when  on  the  eve  of  that  journey,  fancied  he  felt 
symptoms  of  its  approach.  A  large  quantity  of  wool, 
which  he  was  in  the  habit  of  using,  was  therefore  packed 
up,  but  the  threatened  attack  past  away,  and  he  had 
no  return  for  three  years.  Then  again  the  wool  was 
brought  forth  ;  and  on  its  being  opened,  out  dropped  the 
long  lost  scissors  !  But  the  poor  girl  had  left  that  part 
of  the  country,  and  they  never  could  find  her  to  convey 
to  her  any  satisfaction  or  recompense  for  the  suspicion 
which  had  so  unjustly  fallen  upon  her.  The  families 
scarcely  ever  met  afterwards  without  some  allusion  to 
the  circumstance,  and  expressions  of  deep  regret  at 
what  proved  an  irreparable  injury  to  a  poor  girl. 

From  my  childhood  I  was  exceedingly  fond  of  a  gar- 
den ;  I  was  generally  the  first  to  find  out  a  new  flower 
in  blossom,  and  was  always*  eager  on  my  father's  arrival 
to  point  it  out  to  him.  Once,  during  his  absence  from 
home,  a  splendid  collection  of  tulips  had  flowered  ;  each 
day  I  had  watched  their  progress  with  great  delight,  and 
anticipated  with  eagerness  my  father's  return.  When  I 
rose  on  Saturday  morning,  I  was  much  disappointed  to 
find  that  the  day  was  exceedingly  wet  and  windy ;  but 
about  noon  it  cleared  off;  and  by  the  time  my  father 
arrived,  the  gravel  walks  had  become  tolerably  dry.  He 
was  scarcely  out  of  the  carriage  before  I  seized  his 
hand,  and  begged  him  to  come  with  me,  as  I  had  some- 
thing very  particular  to  show  him.  Kindly  indulgent, 
he  granted  my  request,  and  suffered  me  to  lead  him 
where  I  pleased.     As  we  turned  the  corner,  —  "  Now, 


44  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

papa,  for  the  sight !"  —  but  lo !  almost  every  tulip  had 
been  snapped  off  by  the  high  wind,  and  lay  scattered  on 
the  ground,  the  fragments  of  passing  beauty.  I  stood 
for  a  minute  in  silent  astonishment  and  disappointment, 
and  then  I  believe  I  shed  tears.  My  father  took  me  up 
in  his  arms  and  kissed  me,  and  said,  "  My  child,  may 
you  never  set  your  heart  on  any  thing  so  frail  as  a  bed 
of  tulips !"  I  felt  the  disappointment  keenly ;  but  it  was 
some  consolation  to  gather  up  the  scattered  petals,  and 
spread  them  on  white  paper,  and  to  hear  my  father  ad- 
mit that  he  had  never  seen  any  larger,  or  more  splendid. 
My  own  feeling  is,  that  I  have  never  since  seen  any  half 
so  fine  ;  but  it  is  one  of  the  common  illusions  of  child- 
hood to  invest  things  with  an  importance  not  their  own. 
Did  you  ever  notice  the  Indian  or  striped  grass,  which 
is  cultivated  in  many  gardens?  and  did  you  ever  find 
two  leaves  exactly  alike  1  My  young  friends  could  not 
recollect  that  they  ever  had  found  two  alike,  but  had  no 
doubt  they  might  be  found,  and  said  they  would  take  an 
opportunity  of  seeking.  If*  they  find  them,  they  will 
succeed  better  than  myself  and  some  young  companions. 
A  large  party  was  assembled  at  the  house  of  an  old  ba- 
chelor, a  cousin  of  my  father's.  He  had  particularly 
desired  that  all  the  children  should  be  brought,  and  had 
given  directions  to  his  housekeeper  to  prepare  [every 
thing  that  he  thought  could  gratify  or  amuse  us.  Whe- 
ther he  perceived  any  lassitude  among  us  children  for 
want  of  a  direct  object,  (for  this  is  often  the  case  even 
when  surrounded  with  amusements,)  or  whether  the 
seniors  of  the  party  wished  to  be  free  from  the  prattle  or 
the  ears  of  us  young  ones,  the  master  of  the  house  pro- 
posed to  us  to  go  in  search  of  pairs  of  striped  grass 
leaves,  engaging  to  give  us  a  half-crown  each  for  as 


STRIPED   GRASS.  45 

many  pairs  as  we  could  find  striped  exactly  alike.  There 
were  seven  or  eight  of  us,  and  all  readily  joined  in  the 
search ;  some  were  already  guessing  how  many  half- 
crowns  they  should  gain,  and  how  they  should  dispose  of 
them  ;  some  were  comparing  the  leaves  they  gathered 
with  those  of  their  companions  and  others ;  every  now 
and  then  one  would  shout,  "  Now  I  have  found  two 
alike!" — but  in  an  instant  the  voice  fell,  and  added, 
"  No,  not  exactly :  how  very  tiresome  !"  but  though 
often  baffled,  we  tried  again,  and  gave  up  the  pursuit 
with  some  reluctance,  when  called  to  see  the  cows 
milked,  and  to  partake  of  a  syllabub.  Our  kind  host 
sympathized  in  our  disappointment;  "but,"  said  he, 
"the  time  of  your  search  will  not  be  wasted,  if  it  shall 
lead  you  to  remark  the  striking  uniformity,  and  endless 
variety,  which  characterize  the  works  of  God.  In  the 
works  of  man  there  is  often  either  sameness  or  incon- 
sistency; but  the  works  of  nature,  or  rather  the  scenes 
of  nature,  which  are  the  works  of  God,  are  ever  the 
same,  yet  always  new.  The  meanest  blade  of  grass 
is  more  worthy  of  admiration  than  the  most  brilliant 
achievement  of  human  power  and  skill.  Man  could  no 
more  make  a  real  blade  of  grass,  than  he  could  make  a 
star  or  a  sun,  and  hang  it  in  the  firmament.  Does  this 
remark  remind,  either  of  you  of  any  thing  you  have  been 
taught?'  It  happened  that  a  part  of  one  of  Dr.  Watts's 
Divine  Songs  had  already  presented  itself  to  my  mind, 
which  I  repeated : 

"Lord,  how  thy  wonders  are  display'd 
"Where'er  I  turn  my  eye, 
If  I  survey  the  ground  I  tread, 

Or  gaze  upon  the  sky ! 
There's  not  a  plant  nor  flower  below, 
But  makes  thy  glory  known." 


46  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

"  Well,"  said  Mr.  G.,  "  I  promised  you  half  a  crown  if 
you  found  a  pair  of  striped  leaves.  Now  I  will  give 
you  half  a  guinea  for  finding  an  excellent  verse,  and 
putting  it  in  the  right  place  ;  and  yet,  no,  I  do  not  like 
to  give  children  money  for  what  they  say  or  remember, 
lest  it  should  make  them  mercenary ;  I  must  put  the 
half-guinea  again  in  my  purse,  till  I  go  to  the  booksel- 
ler's shop.  But  I  have  another  remark  to  make  about 
the  striped  grass.  It  may  serve  as  an  emblem  of  the 
uniformity  and  variety  that  at  once  exist  among  the  good 
people.  As  you  grow  up  in  life,  don't  expect  that  every 
body  you  meet  with  will  think,  speak,  or  act,  exactly  as 
you  do,  and  do  not  hastily  condemn  them  when  you  find 
it  otherwise.  Though  you  have  not  found  any  two 
leaves  of  this  grass  exactly  alike,  yet  all  are  so  much 
alike,  that  you  have  no  doubt  of  their  being  grass,  and 
striped  grass.  All  good  people  do  not  dress  alike,  nor 
speak  alike,  nor  go  to  the  same  place  of  worship,  but 
there  are  some  things  in  which  they  are  all  alike :  all 
repent  of  sin,  all  depend  on  Christ  as  their  only  Saviour, 
all  live  a  life  of  prayer,  all  desire  to  obey  God,  and  to  do 
good  to  men,  and  all  hope  to  go  to  heaven.  These  are 
the  great  matters  to  be  concerned  about." 

Ruth.  My  dear  Eleanor,  we  must  think  of  the  striped 
grass,  and  hope  to  find  true  Christians  among  those  who 
differ  from  us. 

Eleanor.  Yes,  it  will  be  a  great  pleasure  if  we  find 
it  so  where  we  have  not  expected  it ;  and  yet  we  must 
not  get  into  a  way  of  thinking  that  people  are  Christians, 
however  they  may  act,  or  we  shall  soon  become  indiffe- 
rent to  our  own  conduct.  O,  Mrs.  White,  is  it  not  a 
great  trial  to  think  of  going  where,  perhaps,  we  shall 
not  see  or  hear  a  word  of  any  thing  like  religion  ? 


THE    BACHELOR'S    PRESENT.  47 

Mother.  Yes,  my  dear,  it  is  indeed  a  trial,  and  one 
in  which  you  will  need  much  of  Divine  grace  to  strength- 
en and  preserve  you.  There  is  indeed  a  wide  difference 
between  worldly  persons  and  true  Christians,  which 
must  never  be  confounded ;  and  it  should  be  matter  of 
daily  self-investigation  to  ascertain  that  we  ourselves 
bear  those  great  distinguishing  marks.  It  should  excite 
serious  alarm,  if  at  any  time  we  find  that  in  the  society 
of  gay  and  worldly  people  we  are  beginning  to  overlook 
or  be  indifferent  to  those  distinctions.  At  the  same  time, 
your  sister's  remark  is  very  correct.  It  is  possible,  that 
on  meeting  your  friends  after  a  long  separation,  you 
may  have  the  pleasure,  in  some  instances,  of  perceiving 
a  degree  of  thoughtfulness,  where  formerly  all  was  fri- 
volity and  folly  ;  you  may  find  that  prayer  is  attended  to 
where  it  used  to  be  ridiculed,  or  at  least  neglected,  and 
that  the  Sabbath  is  regarded  where  it  used  to  be  pro- 
faned ;  and  yet  where  these  pleasing  indications  are 
found,  there  may  be  many  things  remaining  which  you 
wish  otherwise,  or  which,  though  perhaps  indifferent  in 
themselves,  are  not  according  to  your  views  and  prac- 
tice. This  will  require  the  exercise  of  circumspection 
as  to  your  own  conduct,  and  of  charity  and  candour  to- 
wards your  friends.  Never  act  contrary  to  your  con- 
science to  please  the  best  friend  you  have  in  the  world, 
and  at  the  same  time  think  and  hope  the  best  of  every 
one,  who  discovers  any  pleasing  evidence  of  piety. 

Emily.  Pray,  mamma,  did  the  old  bachelor  remem- 
ber his  promise  of  sending  you  a  book  ? 

Mother.  Yes,  my  dear ;  a  very  few  days  afterwards 
I  received  "  Evenings  at  Home,"  in  six  volumes,  a  book 
which  afforded  me  much  entertainment  and  instruction, 
and  in  which  I  often  look  with  pleasure  even  now. 


48  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

Emily.  And  we  have  got  the  very  books  now, 
which  you  had  before  you  were  six  years  old !  Well, 
there  is  something  very  pleasant  in  that ;  there  are  se- 
veral more  of  your  books  —  "  Leisure  Hours,"  "  Geo- 
graphy and  History,  by  a  Lady,"  "  The  Universal 
Spelling  Book,"  and  that  little  book  about  Charlotte  and 
Henry,  by  Mrs.  Trimmer  ;  —  I  do  so  prize  them,  and  I 
should  like  to  preserve  them  for  our  little  nephews  and 
nieces,  and  to  tell  them  that  they  are  the  very  books  in 
which  their  grandmother  used  to  read. 

JWother.  Some  of  those  books  are  well  worth  pre- 
serving, and  are  as  likely  to  afford  instruction  and  enter- 
tainment fifty  years  hence,  as  to  young  people  of  the  pre- 
sent day;  but  in  geographical  and  other  school  books, 
improvements  are  so  continually  making  that  even  from 
an  elder  to  a  younger  sister  they  become  almost  obsolete, 
and  every  teacher  wishes  to  obtain  the  newest  editions. 
The  Universal  Spelling  Book,  if  I  recollect  right,  is  em- 
bellished with  some  of  my  earliest  attempts  at  colour- 
ing. Having  a  box  of  cheap  colours  given  me,  I  remem- 
ber laying  them  profusely  on  the  schoolmaster  and  his 
pupils  of  the  frontispiece,  and  on  the  subjects  of  a  few 
fables  or  tales  towards  the  end  of  the  book.  My  awk- 
ward attempts  were  exhibited  to  my  young  friends,  who 
did  not  spare  to  make  themselves  merry  at  my  expense, 
though  most  of  them  owned  that  they  had  themselves 
beautified  books  in  a  similar  way.  I  remember  being 
puzzled  with  some  popular  sayings  at  the  end  of  that 
book,  which  from  inattention  to  the  pointing,  in  several 
instances  may  be  read  two  together,  as  if  they  were  one, 
in  which  case  it  would  puzzle  any  body  to  make  sense  of 
it ;  thus,  "  Lazy  folks  take  the  most  pains,  give  a  man 
his  bread  and  cheese  when  he  has  earned  it."    Thinking 


SIX    YEARS    OLD.  49 

that  there  must  be  a  connexion,  I  could  only  suppose  the 
meaning  to  be  this :  "  When  a  man  has  earned  bread  and 
cheese,  he  must  have  it ;  and  if  the  person  who  owes  it 
him  is  too  lazy  to  get  up  and  give  it  him  at  once,  he  not 
only  exposes  the  man  to  inconvenience,  but  himself  to 
the  trouble  of  being  asked  for  it  again  and  again.  Per- 
haps a  worse  rendering  might  have  been  made.  How- 
ever, it  affords  an  opportunity  of  saying  to  all  learners  — 
Be  sure  you  get  a  habit  of  minding  your  stops,  both  in 
reading  and  writing.  For  want  of  attention  to  this  par- 
ticular, you  may  read  without  at  all  understanding  the 
author's  meaning,  and  in  writing  you  may  convey  a  very 
different,  perhaps  an  opposite  sense  to  what  you  in- 
tended. 

As  an  example  of  this,  the  following  lines  were  given, 
called  "  The  Twelve  Wonders  :"  wonderful  indeed,  if 
you  stop  at  the  end  of  each  line !  but  simple  enough  if 
the  stop  be  placed  in  the  middle  of  each  line,  and  the 
closing  half  of  one  line  carried  on  to  the  beginning  of 
the  next. 

I  saw  a  peacock  with  a  fiery  tail 

I  saw  a  comet  drop  down  hail 

I  saw  the  sky  bedeck'd  with  ivy  round 

I  saw  a  sturdy  oak  crawl  on  the  ground 

I  saw  a  pismire  swallow  up  a  whale 

I  saw  the  sea  brim  full  of  ale 

I  saw  a  Venice  glass  full  fifty  feet  deep 

I  saw  a  well  full  of  men's  tears  that  weep 

I  saw  their  eyes  all  in  a  flame  of  fire 

I  saw  a  house  high  as  the  moon  and  higher 

I  saw  the  sun  all  in  the  midst  of  night 

I  saw  the  man  that  saw  this  wondrous  sight. 

In  the  course  of  conversation,  Agnes  remarked  that 
she  thought  all  children  seemed  to  look  forward  to  six 


SO  THE    GIRL'S   BOOK. 

years  old,  as  a  very  important  period.  Her  brother,  she 
recollected,  was  talking  of  it  for  months  beforehand,  and 
was  particularly  desirous  of  changing  his  dress  on  that 
day.  She  could  go  still  farther  back,  and  recollect  feel- 
ing very  much  ashamed  of  being  carried  across  the  street 
one  rainy  day,  which  she  thought  seemed  so  babyish, 
being  now  six  years  old. 

I  often  wish  that  children  were  as  desirous  of  grow- 
ing in  wisdom  as  in  age  and  stature,  and  of  laying  aside 
what  is  foolish  and  sinful,  as  they  are  to  cast  aside  what 
they  consider  babyish  dress,  and  babyish  habits.  Six 
years  old  is  indeed  a  very  important  period,  as  the  transi- 
tion from  infancy  to  childhood.  About  that  period  the 
minds  of  most  children  expand  very  rapidly,  and  the  mo- 
ral features  become  strongly  marked.  Children  of  that 
age,  who  have  been  properly  instructed,  more  clearly 
and  habitually  learn  to  feel  what  is  right  and  wrong  in 
the  sight  of  God,  and  when  they  transgress  may  be  said 
to  sin  against  conscience. 

A  dear  friend  of  mine,  who  had  lost  several  children 
by  death,  anxiously  asked  a  minister  whether  a  child  of 
six  years  old  was  accountable  for  its  actions.  The  mi- 
nister replied,  "  You,  my  dear  friend,  are  responsible  for 
taking  the  earliest  opportunity  to  impress  on  the  minds 
of  your  children  a  sense  of  their  duty  to  God  ;  and  you, 
my  children,  who  can  understand  what  your  dear  mother 
endeavours  to  teach  you,  and  to  know  whether  you  obey 
or  disobey  her,  are  old  enough  to  give  an  account  of 
your  actions  to  God,  and  to  pray  to  him  every  day  that 
the  sins  which  you  know  you  have  committed,  may  be 
forgiven  for  the  sake  of  his  dear  Son  Jesus  Christ."  My 
dear  girls,  I  often  tremble  when  I  think  of  your  respon- 
sibility and  my  own.  Do  you  ever  think  of  it  1  You  are 
more  than  six  years  old. 


DOLLS.  51 

Agnes.  "  Yes,  mamma,  I  am  more  than  nine." 
"  And  I  shall  be  eleven  next  birth-day !"  "  And  I 
thirteen !"  "  And  I  eight !"  at  the  same  moment  ex- 
claimed the  whole  company,  the  ages  varying  from  six 
to  sixteen.  Ah !  thought  I,  will  they  all  live  to  see  next 
birth-day  1  oh,  that  they  may  now  be  taught  so  to  num- 
ber their  days  as  to  apply  their  hearts  unto  wisdom ! 

Jane.  Pray,  Mrs.  White,  at  what  age  do  you  think 
girls  ought  to  leave  off  playing  with  dolls]  A  cousin  of 
ours,  who  is  younger  than  Maria,  quite  laughs  at  us  for 
carrying  about  dolls  ;  she  says  she  has  cast  off  hers  long 
ago ;  and  though  we  are  really  fond  of  our  dolls,  she  has 
made  us  almost  ashamed  of  them. 

Mother.  Indeed,  my  dear,  I  am  of  a  very  different 
opinion ;  and  I  question  if  your  young  relation  has  aban- 
doned her  dolls  for  amusements  more  innocent,  interest- 
ing, and  instructive.  This  idea  was  instilled  into  me  by 
the  good  old  lady  from  Hampshire,  who  stood  my  friend 
in  the  affair  of  the  inky  paste-cutter.  I  had  several 
dolls  of  inferior  value  ;  but  about  two  months  before  my 
sixth  birthday,  she  brought  a  handsome  wax  doll,  with 
materials  of  every  kind  for  clothing,  which  she  requested 
my  sisters  to  make  up,  saying  she  intended  it  as  a  birth- 
day present  for  me,  as  I  was  now  coming  to  an  age  to 
understand  and  enjoy  it.  I  assure  you  this  gave  me  a 
very  respectable  idea  of  doll-playing.  The  care  of  its 
wardrobe  was  an  exercise  of  neatness  and  ingenuity ; 
and  though  I  several  times  got  blamed  for  altering  the 
clothes  from  their  original  making  up,  or  for  cutting  a 
larger  garment  to  fit  a  smaller  doll,  even  my  misguided 
labours  were  improving  to  myself.  The  inconvenience 
resulting  from  rashness  served  to  teach  me  better  ma- 
nagement in  future,  and  I  am  not  ashamed  to  say  that  I 


52  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

continued  to  care  for  my  dolls,  with  maternal  tenderness 
and  contrivance,  till  my  attention  was  directed  to  a  little 
nephew.  I  was  then  about  eleven  years  old  ;  and  I  do 
think  my  dolls  had  fitted  me  to  be  much  more  useful  in 
the  family  of  my  sister,  both  in  nursing  and  needlework, 
than  a  girl  of  my  age  could  have  been  who  had  been 
brought  up  in  contempt  of  a  doll.  My  dolls  and  cradles 
were  then  carefully  laid  by,  and  a  few  years  afterwards 
inherited  by  my  nieces. 

I  have  given  you  the  Hampshire  lady's  sentiments 
about  punishment,  by  which  you  will  have  perceived  that 
she  was  economical  in  that  particular,  and  wished  to 
make  a  little  go  a  great  way,  by  using  it  as  seldom  as 
possible,  and  making  as  little  as  possible  serve  the  pur- 
pose. We  had  a  visiter  of  a  different  opinion  ;  one  who 
seemed  to  think  it  quite  a  pity  to  pass  by  an  opportunity 
of  inflicting  punishment.  A  few  months  before  I  went 
to  school,  my  parents  moved  back  to  the  village  (not  the 
house)  where  I  was  born.  One  of  the  first  things  in 
the  new  house  that  caught  my  attention  was  a  very  large 
alarm  bell,  which  I  was  told  was  intended  to  be  rung  in 
case  of  fire  or  thieves.  Now,  though  I  certainly  had 
no  wish  to  be  alarmed  by  either  fire  or  thieves,  I  had  a 
longing  desire  to  hear  the  sound  of  this  bell,  and  scarcely 
ever  went  up  stairs  without  a  strong  inclination  to  give 
it  a  pull.  One  ironing-day,  when  my  sisters  and  the 
maids  were  busy  in  the  laundry,  they  employed  me  to 
carry  up  a  few  light  things  on  a  waiter.  As  I  passed  the 
alarm  bell,  the  temptatiou  seemed  too  strong  to  be  re- 
sisted; "just  to  give  it  one  pull,  to  make  it  tingle  only 
once  :  as  all  of  the  family,  who  are  at  home,  are  busy  at 
the  bottom  of  the  house,  it  will  not  alarm  them,  and  per- 
sons out  of  the  house  will  not  hear  one  stroke."     After 


MEDDLING    PUNISHED.  53 

hesitating  a  minute,  I  ventured  to  pull  the  rope,  but  in- 
stead of  the  one  tingle  that  I  intended,  down  came  a 
fourteen  pound  weight  on  rny  poor  little  giddy  skull. 
The  bell,  it  appeared,  had  not  been  examined  for  a  long 
time,  and  the  iron  which  sustained  this  weight  had  be- 
come quite  rusty,  so  that  on  being  pulled,  it  snapped,  and 
gave  way.  It  is  a  great  mercy  that  I  was  not  killed  on 
the  spot.  However,  I  received  a  large  cut  very  near 
the  temple,  and  was  some  time  confined  to  bed  with  the 
fever  it  occasioned.  The  lady  above  alluded  to,  called 
to  see  me  ;  my  mother  related  the  circumstances  of  the 
accident.  — "  We  heard  a  scream,  and  a  fall,  and  all 
ran  up  stairs  together ;  and  at  the  top  of  the  stairs  lay 
the  dear  little  creature  quite  senseless,  the  blood  stream- 
ing from  the  wound.  Of  course  we  instantly  sent  for  a 
surgeon,  and  got  her  to  bed."  "  Of  course,"  replied  the 
benevolent  visiter,  "  it  is  to  be  hoped  you  first  gave  her 
a  sound  whipping  for  meddling ;  if  not,  you  ought  to  take 
her  up,  and  whip  her  now."  My  dear  and  tender  pa- 
rents had,  I  doubt  not,  entirely  overlooked  my  fault  in  its 
punishment,  for  not  a  word  of  reproach  had  escaped 
their  lips  ;  but  my  own  conscience  had  not  failed  to  re- 
proach me,  and  tell  me  that  all  the  blame  was  my  own, 
not  only  of  the  pain  and  inconvenience  I  myself  suffered, 
but  of  the  alarm  and  trouble  occasioned  to  those  most 
dear  to  me  ;  and  this  conviction  was  a  much  more  real 
and  effectual  punishment  than  a  sound  whipping.  I 
have  often  thought  of  my  own  adventure  when  reading, 
or  hearing  my  children  repeat  Miss  Taylor's  little  poem 
called  "  Meddlesome  Matty,"  the  little  girl  who  meddled 
with  her  grandmamma's  snuff-box  and  spectacles ;  in 
doing  which  she  almost  choked  herself  with  snuff,  and 
broke  the  spectacles  to  pieces.  I  dare  say  you  remem- 
ber it. 

5* 


54  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

MEDDLESOME  MATTY. 

"  O  how  one  ugly  trick  has  spoil'd 
The  sweetest  and  the  best ! 
Matilda,  though  a  pleasant  child, 

One  ugly  trick  possess'd, 
Which,  like  a  cloud  before  the  skies, 
Hid  all  her  better  qualities. 

"  Sometimes  she'd  lift  the  tea-pot  lid 
To  peep  at  what  was  in  it ; 
Or  tilt  the  kettle,  if  you  did 

But  turn  your  back  a  minute. 
In  vain  you  told  her  not  to  touch, 
Her  trick  of  meddling  grew  so  much. 

"  Her  grandmamma  went  out  one  day, 
And,  by  mistake,  she  laid 

Her  spectacles  and  snuff-box  gay 
Too  near  the  little  maid. 

'  Ah,  well ! '  thought  she, « I'll  try  them  on 
As  soon  as  grandmamma  is  gone.' 

"  Forthwith  she  plac'd  upon  her  nose 
The  glasses  large  and  wide  ; 

And  looking  round,  as  I  suppose, 
The  snuff-box,  too,  she  spied. 

'  O,  what  a  pretty  box  is  this ! 

I'll  open  it,'  said  little  Miss. 

"  'I  know  that  grandmamma  would  say, 

'  Don't  meddle  with  it,  dear,' 

But  then,  she's  far  enough  away, 

And  no  one  else  is  near. 
Besides,  what  can  there  be  amiss 
In  opening  such  a  box  as  this  ? ' 

-  "So  thumb  and  finger  went  to  work 

To  move  the  stubborn  lid, 

And  presently  a  mighty  jerk 

The  mighty  mischief  did. 

For  all  at  once,  ah,  woful  case ! 

The  snuff  came  puffing  in  her  face. 


MEDDLESOME    MATTY. 

"  Poor  eyes  and  nose,  and  mouth  and  chin, 

A  dismal  sight  presented ; 
And  as  the  snuff  got  farther  in, 

Sincerely  she  repented. 
In  vain  she  ran  about  for  ease, 
She  could  do  nothing  else  but  sneeze, 

"  She  dash'd  the  spectacles  away 
To  wipe  her  tingling  eyes  ; 
And  as  in  twenty  bits  they  lay, 
Her  grandmamma  she  spies. 
1  Heyday  !  and  what's  the  matter  now  ? ' 
Cries  grandmamma,  with  lifted  brow. 

"Matilda,  smarting  with  the  pain, 

And  tingling  still  and  sore, 
Made  many  a  promise  to  refrain 

From  meddling  any  more. 
And  'tis  a  fact  as  I  have  heard, 
She  ever  since  has  kept  her  word." 


55 


CHAPTER   III, 


SAMPLERS  AND  COPY-BOOKS.  —  OUR  WORKS   OUTLIVE  US.  —  SENTIMENTS   ANI> 
WISHES  ABOUT  LIFE  AND  DEATH.  —  GOING  TO  SCHOOL. 

My  young  friends  were  sitting  with  me,  very  busily 
engaged  in  marking  a  set  of  neck-cloths ;  as  some  dis- 
cussion arose  about  the  number  of  stitches  in  a  figure, 
my  old  samplers  were  brought  forth  as  an  authority. 
The  controverted  point  being  settled,  some  of  the  young- 
er ones  amused  themselves  with  reading  the  contents. 
On  one  of  these  samplers,  after  several  alphabets  large 
and  small,  is  worked  the  first  verse  of  the  twelfth  chap- 
ter of  Ecclesiastes,  "  Remember  now  thy  Creator  in  the 
days  of  thy  youth,  while  the  evil  days  come  not,  nor  the 
years  draw  nigh,  when  thou  shalt  say,  I  have  no  pleasure 
in  them."  Also  the  following  lines,  written  by  a  worthy 
minister,  for  a  young  lady's  sampler.  I  knew  the  good 
man  from  my  childhood ;  and  though  the  lines  were  not 


SAMPLERS    AND    COPY-BOOKS.  57 

written  for  me,  I  felt  additional  pleasure  in  having  work- 
ed them  when  I  found  they  were  written  by  him. 

"  Jesus,  permit  thy  gracious  name  to  stand 
As  the  first  effort  of  an  infant  hand ; 
And  while  her  fingers  o'er  the  canvass  move, 
Engage  her  tender  thoughts  to  seek  thy  love  ; 
With  thy  dear  children  let  her  share  a  part, 
And  write  thy  name,  thyself,  upon  her  heart." 

The  other  sampler  has  the  following  lines,  which  also 
may  be  thought  worth  preserving. 

"  How  pleasantly  the  morning  springs, 
While  beauty  glitters  on  its  wings 

Adorning  all  the  east ! 
The  tuneful  lark  mounts  up  on  high, 
And,  drawing  nearer  to  the  sky, 

Her  music  is  increas'd. 

"  Now  in  the  morning  of  my  days, 
Let  me  acquire  deserved  praise, 
And  well  improve  my  mind  : 
Soon  will  these  happy  hours  be  gone, 
And  loaded  years  with  pain  come  on, 
Unlike  to  those  behind." 

Ann  asked  me  whether  my  years  had  been  loaded 
with  pain  and  sorrow.  I  could  not  but  feel  that  they 
have  rather  been  loaded  with  benefits,  though  by  no 
means  unmingled  with  pain  and  sorrow.  But  the  most 
favoured  as  well  as  the  most  afflicted  lot  in  mature  years, 
is  such  as  to  confirm  the  sentiment,  that  youth  is  the 
best  season  of  preparation  for  future  years,  and  espe- 
cially for  the  cultivation  of  piety. 

Rose  observed  that,  in  my  sampler,  the  letters  (as  she 
expressed  it)  were  "  all  higgledy  piggledy,  instead  of 


58  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

being  put  in  a  regular  alphabet,"  and  wished  to  have  the 
reason  explained.  Perhaps  some  of  my  young  friends 
may  choose  to  adopt  the  hint :  I  shall  therefore  set  it 
down.  It  is  usual,  in  order  to  teach  the  proper  manner 
of  placing  the  letters  on  table  linen,  &c.  after  the  large 
and  small  alphabets,  to  mark  one,  thus,  a.b.  d.  e.»  and  so 
on ;  but  my  dear  father  suggested  that  the  end  might  be 
attained  equally  well,  and  the  sampler  prove  an  interest- 
ing memorial  of  family  connexions  and  friends,  by  giving 
the  initials  of  relations  and  friends  in  pairs.  The  first 
pair,  therefore,  were  my  father  and  mother ;  the  second, 
my  two  sisters ;  afterwards,  my  uncles  and  aunts ;  the 
minister  on  whom  we  attended,  and  his  wife ;  my  go- 
verness and  her  brother,  and  several  other  friends  and 
acquaintance.  In  answering  the  questions  of  my  chil- 
dren, "  And  who  does  j \  stand  for  1 "  "  And  who  does 
s^i.  stand  for  1 "  "  And  who  does  $%.  stand  for  1 "  "  Are 
they  living  ? "  I  was  struck  to  observe  that  of  thirty-six 
individuals  there  named,  five  only  remain,  and  thirty-one 
have  gone  to  the  home  appointed  for  all  living.  A  few 
more  years,  and  the  fingers  that  traced  those  letters,  and 
that  guide  this  pen,  will  lie  mouldering  in  the  dust,  and 
there,  too,  must  lie  —  even  there,  my  youthful  reader. 
May  the  immortal  spirit  of  each  have  then  returned  to 
God  who  gave  it,  and  found  admission  to  his  blissful 
presence  through  the  merits  of  his  beloved  Son  ! 

Samplers  led  to  a  request  that  I  would  produce  a  very 
old  store,  now  sadly  disfigured  by  the  insidious  ravages 
of  the  tiny  moth  ;  the  sampler  of  my  grandmother,  to- 
gether with  two  of  her  copy-books.  My  young  friends 
were  not  a  little  amused  with  these  relics  of  more  than 
a  century,  the  spelling  of  which  varies  greatly  from  that 


OUR   WORKS    OUTLIVE    US.  59 

of  the  present  day  —  indeed,  seems  to  have  been  adopted 
just  as  it  happened,  without  regard  to  any  fixed  rules. 

Perhaps  the  young  reader  may  not  be  displeased  with 
the  insertion  of  a  few  homely  verses  of  that  date,  as  the 
sentiments  are  good,  though  the  poetry  is  not  first-rate. 
Please  to  add,  as  fancy  may  dictate,  a  due  proportion  of 
red  brick  houses,  sugar-loaf  trees,  lambs,  parrots,  rab- 
bits, canary  birds,  baskets,  and  snails,  all  of  one  size, 
with  which  the  sampler  is  embellished ;  and  surround 
each  of  the  copies  with  flourishes,  pens,  dolphins,  and 
swans. 

EXCELLENCE. 

"Might  we  attain  to  excellence  sublime, 
Without  a  careful  management  of  time, 
Thousands  would  then  to  excellence  attain 
That  are  unworthy  of  one  drachm  or  grain  j 
But  excellence  is  seated  on  a  throne 
Above  the  reach  of  every  dunce  and  drone." 


"  If  nature  gives  perfection  and  rare  beauty, 
To  match  them  with  good  manners  is  your  duty : 
If  you  proportion  want,  and  are  not  fair, 
Let  grace  and  manners  these  defects  repair." 

FORECAST. 

"  When  any  work  or  business  you  intend, 
Before  you  undertake  it,  cast  the  end  : 
He  that  doth  build,  learn,  fight,  or  run  a  race, 
And  doth  not  finish,  sits  down  with  disgrace." 

WORTH  OF  THE   SOUL. 

"  Give  a  true  estimation  of  the  worth 
Of  all  that  under  heaven  the  earth  brings  forth, 


60  THE     GIRL'S     BOOK. 

Then  think  what  you  shall  gain  to  buy  the  whole 
At  the  dear  price  of  your  immortal  soul ! 
O  wonder !  this  vast  world,  and  all  therein, 
Cannot  all  balance  with  one  wilful  sin." 

TO-MORROW. 

"  You'll  mend  your  life  '  to-morrow,'  still  you  cry  ; 
In  what  far  country  does  this  morrow  lie  ? 
It  stays  so  long,  'tis  fetch't  so  far,  I  fear 
'Twill  be  both  very  old,  and  very  dear." 

ON  THE  ART   OF  WRITING. 

"  Tell  me  what  genius  did  the  art  invent 
The  lively  image  of  a  voice  to  paint? 
Who  first  the  secret  how  to  colour  sound, 
And  to  give  shape  to  reason  wisely  found  ? 
With  bodies  how  to  clothe  ideas  taught, 
And  how  to  draw  the  picture  of  a  thought  ? 
Who  taught  the  hand  to  speak,  the  eye  to  hear 
A  silent  language  floating  far  and  near, 
Whose  softest  notes  outstrip  loud  thunder's  sound, 
And  spread  their  accents  through  the  world's  vast  round. 
Yet  with  kind  secrecy  securely  roll 
Whispers  of  absent  friends  from  pole  to  pole, 
A  speech  heard  by  the  deaf,  spoke  by  the  dumb, 
Whose  echo  reaches  long,  long  time  to  come, 
Which  dead  men  speak,  as  well  as  those  that  live  ;  — 
Tell  me,  what  genius  did  this  art  contrive  ?  " 

"  0  mamma,"  said  Emily,  "  when  '  Elizabeth  Russell 
wrote  this,  December  the  15th,  1721,'  little,  little  did  she 
think  that  her  great-grandchildren  would  read  it  upwards 
of  a  hundred  years  afterwards  !  when  she,  no  doubt,  has 
been  many  years  dead.  Mamma,  do  you  remember 
her?" 

"  No,  my  dear,  she  died  more  than  thirty  years  before 
I  was  born.  I  have  seen  several  of  her  letters,  addressed 


SENTIMENTS    AND    WISHES    ABOUT    FUTURITY.        61 

to  her  only  son  when  at  school.  They  discover  great 
anxiety  for  his  best  interests,  and  contain  much  sound 
and  wholesome  advice  as  to  his  conduct.  I  have  also 
seen  several  of  my  dear  father's  replies,  full  of  respect- 
ful and  affectionate  tenderness :  the  whole  intercourse 
was  evidently  that  of  a  wise  mother,  and  a  dutiful  son. 
The  fond  anticipations  of  a  happy  meeting  expressed  in 
the  last  of  these  letters  were  not,  however,  realized. 
Having  completed  his  education,  my  father  was  hasten- 
ing home,  after  three  years'  absence,  when  he  was  met  by 
the  distressing  news  of  the  death  of  this  excellent  parent." 

Emily.  0,  dear  mamma,  how  very  affecting!  I 
wonder  that  he  ever  recovered  the  shock ! 

Mother.  I  have  no  doubt  that  he  felt  it  very  deeply. 
Instead,  however,  of  giving  way  to  unavailing  grief,  he 
more  substantially  evidenced  the  affectionate  reverence 
in  which  he  held  his  mother's  memory,  by  tender  as- 
siduity in  promoting  the  comfort  of  his  remaining  parent, 
and  by  conscientiously  practising  the  good  instructions 
he  had  received. 

Agnes.  What  a  comfort  it  must  have  been  to  him, 
when  he  lost  his  mother,  to  think  that  he  had  been  a  du- 
tiful and  affectionate  son  to  her !  If  he  had  been  diso- 
bedient while  at  home,  or  had  not  attended  to  the  advice 
she  gave  him  while  at  school,  and  then  lost  her  as  he  did, 
it  would  have  made  him  miserable  for  life.  Do  not  you 
think  it  would,  mamma  ? 

Mother.  There  is  nothing  more  consolatory  under 
the  loss  of  any  beloved  relative,  than  the  consciousness 
of  having  endeavoured  faithfully  to  discharge  your  duty  to 
them  while  they  lived.  But  where  have  grandmamma's 
copy-books  and  sampler  carried  us  to  1  Not,  I  hope, 
far  out  of  the  way  of  instruction,  if  they  have  led  to  seri- 
6 


62  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

ous  reflection.  Not  only  have  the  busy  fingers  that 
traced  these  lines  long  mouldered  in  the  dust,  but,  in  all 
probability,  scarcely  an  individual  of  the  human  race  who 
was  then  in  existence  survives  to  the  present  day ;  and 
long,  very  long  before  a  like  period  revolves,  each  of  us 
will  have  passed  into  silence !  It  is  possible,  however, 
that  something  we  have  done  may  long  survive  us.  How 
constantly  solicitous  should  we  be,  first,  to  prepare  for 
that  eternity  on  which  we  must  soon  enter,  and  next,  ne- 
ver to  do  any  thing  which  may  be  injurious  to  others,  and 
disgraceful  to  our  own  memory,  when  we  have  passed 
the  boundary  of  time. 

Emily.  I  wonder  whether  any  thing  I  do  will  be  pre- 
served a  hundred  years  after  I  am  dead  1 

•Mother,  Most  likely  it  will,  even  though  your  very 
name  should  be  forgotten.  The  influence  of  conduct 
and  example  extends  more  widely  and  permanently  than 
we  are  apt  to  imagine.  One  good  or  evil  action,  which 
we  perhaps  forget,  may  prove  an  example  to  some  one 
who  observes  it,  —  may  influence  the  conduct  of  that  in- 
dividual through  life,  and  be  extended  to  connexions  and 
descendants  in  long  succession.  I  can  give  you  two  in- 
stances of  this,  the  one  painful,  and  the  other  pleasing ; — 
A  gentleman's  servant,  who  had  been  soberly  brought 
up,  and  was  reckoned  a  steady  well-disposed  lad,  once 
heard  a  visiter  at  his  master's  table  ridicule  the  Bible- 
One  sinful  and  foolish  expression  unsettled  the  poor  fel- 
low's mind,  and  weakened  his  reverence  for  the  sacred 
book,  and  left  him  a  prey  to  the  first  temptation  to  diso- 
bey its  dictates.  He  became  a  vicious  and  profligate 
character,  and  corrupted  many  by  his  conversation  and 
example.  The  effects  of  that  one  expression  will  long 
outlive  the  profane  lips  that  uttered  it,  and  it  may  be 


ANCIENT    DRESS.  63 

feared,  will  not  have  passed  away  through  eternity.  The 
other  instance,  to  which  I  referred,  was  that  of  a  little 
girl,  who  happened  to  sleep  one  night  in  the  house  of  a 
pious  family,  who  of  course  met  for  worship  morning  and 
evening.  This  observance  was  perfectly  new  to  the  little 
girl ;  she  was  struck  with  the  reasonableness  and  pro- 
priety of  it.  On  her  return  home,  she  mentioned  it  to 
her  parents,  and  entreated  that  they  would  establish  the 
practice.  Her  request  was  so  far  complied  with,  that  an 
excellent  volume  of  family  prayers  was  procured,  and  a 
prayer  read  every  Sunday  evening ;  by  degrees,  it  was 
extended  to  the  Sabbath  morning,  with  the  addition  of  a 
chapter  in  the  Bible  ;  then  to  every  evening  in  the  week, 
and  at  last  to  every  morning  also.  Some  years  of  im- 
portunity were  employed  in  effecting  the  desired  object, 
but  it  was  never  afterwards  abandoned ;  and  as  each  of 
the  young  people  of  that  family  formed  themselves  into 
separate  families,  the  practice  was  adopted  by  them  with 
all  its  attendant  benefits,  and  their  children  have  risen 
into  life,  without  an  idea  that  a  family  tould  live  from  day 
to  day  in  the  omission  of  family  prayer.  The  worthy 
family,  with  whom  the  little  girl  first  noticed  the  holy  ha- 
bit, are  long  since  dead  and  gone  —  perhaps  little  aware 
of  the  impression  that  had  been  made ;  but  who  can  say 
how  widely  and  permanently  its  effects  may  even  now 
be  spreading  ?  Emily  inquired  whether  I  had  preserved 
any  samplers  or  copy-books  of  my  own  parents.  I  re- 
gretted to  say  that  none  had  ever  come  into  my  hands ; 
but  I  produced  a  register  of  texts  kept  by  my  dear  father 
from  his  childhood  to  the  time  of  his  death ;  on  this  I 
look  with  interest  and  pleasure,  to  trace  the  labours  of 
holy  and  eminent  men,  and  to  observe  that  one  so  dear 
to  me  was  a  regular  and  attentive  hearer  of  such  valuable 


64  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

instructions.  My  mother  was  educated  at  home,  with 
the  exception  of  taking  lessons  in  French  and  embroid- 
ery, of  an  old  French  lady.  All  that  remains  of  her 
youthful  application  is  a  satin  waistcoat,  and  a  gauze 
handkerchief,  richly  embroidered,  and  a  coverlet,  partly 
embroidered,  and  partly  stitched.  They  are  exceedingly 
beautiful  of  their  kind ;  the  colours  of  the  silks  as  vivid 
as  if  recently  done  :  and  all  received  a  due  portion  of  ad- 
miration. Agnes  wondered  how  they  managed  to  make 
both  sides  look  exactly  alike,  and  how  any  little  girl 
ever  could  have  patience  to  set  so  many  stitches  ;  and 
above  all,  how  any  gentleman  could  wear  a  waistcoat 
which  was  so  massy  with  gold  and  silver ;  and  amused 
herself  with  thinking  what  a  very  odd  figure  her  great- 
grandfather must  have  appeared  with  this  splendid  waist- 
coat and  other  articles  of  dress  to  correspond  —  a  sword, 
a  bag  wig,  a  three-cornered  hat,  and  a  gold-headed  cane. 
Her  pensive  sister  was  desirous  of  ascertaining  the  exact 
date  of  these  articles  of  workmanship  1  and  how  it  was 
that  the  waistcoat  was  in  such  good  preservation  1  whe- 
ther the  owner  died  before  it  was  worn  out  ?  To  these 
questions  I  could  not  reply,  but  supposed  it  might  be 
seventy  years,  or  upwards.  "  Well,  mamma,"  continu- 
ed Emily,  with  a  sigh,  "I  scarcely  know  whether  it  is 
most  pleasing,  or  most  melancholy,  —  the  idea  of  our 
works  so  long  outliving  ourselves.  I  delight  in  possess- 
ing any  thing  that  was  yours  when  a  child,  but  I  do  not 
feel  exactly  the  same  towards  these  old  relics  of  persons 
whom  I  have  never  known." 

Mother.  My  dear  child,  the  difference  of  feeling 
arises  chiefly  from  the  circumstance  that  your  mother  is 
yet  living.  When  you  look  at  the  productions  of  one 
who  is  dead,  a  train  of  thought  is  awakened,  to  which 


GOING    TO    SCHOOL,  65 

the  mind  is  naturally  averse  —  *  They  are  dead  ;  and  I, 
too,  must  die.'  I  have  read  in  history  of  a  king,  who  so 
dreaded  and  detested  the  thoughts  of  death,  that  it  was 
esteemed  an  act  of  treason  for  any  of  his  attendants  to 
make  the  slightest  and  most  distant  allusion  to  it  in  his 
presence.  The  feeling  is  not  uncommon,  though  very 
unwise.  Why  should  we  avoid  thinking  of  that  which 
we  cannot  actually  avoid,  when  by  accustoming  ourselves 
to  think  of  it,  we  may  be  led  to  such  preparation  as  will 
enable  us  both  to  think  of  it,  and  to  meet  it  without  dis- 
may 1  I  have  often  been  interested  and  delighted  by  an 
anecdote  of  the  amiable  Princess  Charlotte  of  Wales,  of 
whom  it  is  stated,  that,  when  waited  on  by  an  aged  min- 
ister, who  solicited  her  aid  to  some  benevolent  institu- 
tion, she  improved  the  opportunity,  by  asking  with  much 
seriousness,  "  What  is  necessary  to  make  a  death- bed 
easy  ?"  It  is  a  proof  of  sound  and  heavenly  wisdom 
when  this  important  question  is  seriously  asked  by  one 
in  the  bloom  of  health,  youth,  possession,  and  enjoy- 
ment ;  and  Oh,  what  a  mercy  if  it  was,  in  this  instance, 
satisfactorily  and  savingly  answered !  Had  it  been  de- 
ferred till  the  period  of  youth  was  past,  it  would  have 
been  too  late,  for  the  amiable  princess  did  not  reach  her 
twenty-second  year. 

Agnes.  To  what  age  did  your  mother  live,  mamma  ? 
I  do  not  remember  her. 

Mother.  She  was  sixty-seven  when  she  died.  It 
was  before  either  of  you  girls  was  born.  She  was  much 
pleased  with  your  eldest  brother  ;  but  he  was  too  young 
to  recollect  her. 

Emily.     Mamma,  I'll  tell  you  what  is  my  wish,  my 
very  particular  wish  —  that  you  may  live  to  be  very  old 
indeed.     Should  you  not  like  that  1 
6* 


6G 


THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 


Mother.  I  should  be  very  wrong,  my  dear,  were  I  to 
indulge  a  wish  about  distant  futurity.  May  I  but  be  en- 
abled from  day  to  day  conscientiously  to  discharge  the 
duties  assigned  me,  and  live  dependent  upon  Christ,  and 
in  calm  preparation  for  my  last  day,  whenever  it  shall 
please  God  to  make  it  dawn  upon  me  ! 

Emily.  Well,  mamma,  that  certainly  is  right,  and 
best ;  and  yet  I  can  never  bear  to  think  of  being  left  in 
this  world  without  you  and  dear  papa.  But  now,  will 
you  tell  us  about  going  to  school?  you  promised  you 
would  do  so.  Were  you  a  boarder?  and  how  did  you 
feel  at  first  leaving  home  ? 

Mother.  I  anticipated  it  with  great  pleasure  and  ea- 
gerness, and  got  all  my  little  treasures  packed  up  at  least 
a  month  beforehand ;  though  I  must  confess  they  were 
afterwards  several  times  unpacked  to  see  that  all  was 
safe,  to  remove  one  article  as  a  present  to  a  friend,  or  to 
add  another  that  had  been  presented  to  me.  It  was  with 
high  glee  that  I  saw  the  carriage  draw  up  to  the  door  that 
was  to  convey  me  to  school.  My  parents  and  sisters 
accompanied  me  ;  so  at  home  I  had  only  to  take  leave  of 
the  servants.  "  Good  bye,  Miss."  "  We  shall  be  glad 
to  see  you  back  again."  "  Christmas  will  soon  come." 
These  were  the  parting  salutations  of  the  maids.  An 
old  washerwoman  seeing  me  inclined  to  go  off  in  good 
spirits,  observed,  "Ah,  poor  thing!  all  her  troubles  are 
to  come  ;"  and  the  poor  old  French  gardener  wrung  his 
hands,  and  sobbed  out,  "  Dear  Miss  !  dear  Miss  !  very 
sorry  to  lose !  please  God  bring  home  again !"  I  ob- 
served at  the  moment  that  my  dear  father  brushed  a  tear 
from  the  corner  of  his  eye,  and  hurried  my  mother  into 
the  carriage,  as  if  to  prevent  her  hearing  the  old  man's 
exclamation.     Then  it  came  into  my  mind  —  "  Perhaps 


ARRIVAL   AT    SCHOOL.  67 

old  Monet  remembers  the  time  when  my  brother  was 
taken  to  school,  and  was  only  brought  home  to  die ;" 
such,  I  doubt  not,  was  his  feeling,  and  that  my  father  re- 
ciprocated in  it.  The  thought  somewhat  chastened  my 
feelings  of  exultation,  and  made  me  rather  pensive  dur- 
ing the  journey. 

My  governess,  a  truly  amiable  woman,  received  me 
with  much  kindness  and  affection,  introduced  me  to  my 
school-fellows,  and  desired  me  to  inform  them  that  a  half- 
holiday  would  be  granted  the  next  day  in  honour  of  a  new 
scholar.  This  news  was  received  with  much  greater 
glee  than  it  was  imparted,  for  I  felt  shy  among  so  many 
strange  faces,  and  thought  that  I  should  prefer  sitting 
quietly  to  work  and  reading,  far  before  being  obliged  to 
converse  and  play  with  strangers  ;  especially  as  I  soon 
found,  that  though  a  few  of  the  eldest  girls,  who  remem- 
bered my  sister  at  school,  would  make  a  plaything  of 
me,  when  I  had  been  there  as  an  occasional  visiter,  now 
I  was  come  as  a  regular  scholar  they  took  no  notice  of 
me,  but  left  me  entirely  to  younger  girls,  among  whom  I 
was  quite  a  stranger.  I  could  not  take  courage  to  min- 
gle in  their  sports,  felt  almost  frightened  when  any  one 
spoke  to  me,  and  longed  to  be  called  into  the  parlour. 
The  summons  in  due  time  arrived  :  I  took  tea  with  my 
governess  and  my  parents  ;  and  then,  for  the  first  time  in 
my  life,  was  separated  from  my  family,  and  found  myself 
left  alone  at  school. 

Emily.     0,  poor  child !  did  you  not  feel  very  desolate  ? 

Mother.  Not  so  much  so  as  is  commonly  the  case 
with  a  new  scholar.  My  kind  governess  permitted  me 
to  spend  the  remainder  of  the  evening  with  her,  amusing 
myself  with  the  furniture  and  decorations  of  the  parlour, 
which  consisted  principally  of  specimens  of  worsted 


63  THE     GIRL'S     BOOK. 

work,  filigree,  embroidery,  and  other  fancy  work  per- 
formed in  the  school.  I  was  delighted  with  the  hope  of 
learning  to  do  all  these  things,  and  anticipated  the  plea- 
sure of  taking  home,  at  the  holidays,  presents  for  all  my 
friends,  and  ornaments  for  the  drawing-room.  I  believe 
my  plans  and  purposes  for  one  half  year  would  have  en- 
grossed two  or  three  years  to  fulfil ;  but  my  governess 
good-humouredly  reminded  me,  that  it  would  not  do  to 
give  all  my  time  to  these  pursuits ;  a  little,  she  said, 
would  be  wanted  for  plain  needle- work,  reading,  writing, 
arithmetic,  geography,  and  other  things  of  lasting  utility. 
I  have  not  forgotten  the  illustration  by  which  she  impress- 
ed her  sentiments  on  my  mind.  Taking  a  little  box  from 
her  pocket,  (she  professed  to  keep  it  on  account  of  her 
cough,  but  I  do  think  more  than  half  the  contents  were 
given  to  the  little  girls,)  she  asked  me  if  I  liked  sugar 
candy  1  I  thanked  her  and  took  a  little  bit.  She  then 
asked  me  if  I  should  like  every  day  to  dine  on  sugar  can- 
dy? I  thought  it  a  very  odd  question,  as  it  seemed  to 
me,  that  meat  and  bread,  pudding  and  vegetables,  were 
much  more  suitable.  "Yes,"  replied  the  good  lady,  "I 
think  so  too  ;  but  when  too  much  time  is  devoted  to  fancy 
work,  and  mere  outside  accomplishments,  it  is  like 
dining  on  sugar  candy  —  sure  to  cloy  the  appetite  and 
injure  the  health.  My  rule  is,  to  make  these  fancy  pur- 
suits a  mere  recreation,  and  a  reward  for  attention,  dili- 
gence, and  perseverance,  in  more  important  studies." 
The  cheerfulness,  affability,  and  condescension  of  my 
governess,  soon  won  my  confidence  and  veneration  ;  and 
her  praises  of  my  sisters,  who  had  been  her  former  pupils, 
stimulated  and  encouraged  me  to  resolve  that  I,  too, 
would  endeavour  to  deserve  her  approbation.  And  so 
the  hour  passed  very  cheerfully  and  pleasantly,  till  the 


iRRIVAL    AT     SCHOOL.  69 

bell  rang  for  family  prayers :  then  again  I  had  to  encoun- 
ter meeting  the  whole  school;  but  the  uncomfortable 
feeling  soon  wore  off;  the  beautiful  Scripture  narrative 
that  was  read  fastened  my  attention,  and  made  me  for- 
get all  surrounding  circumstances.  Prayer,  too,  had  a 
soothing  influence  on  the  mind ;  and  I  retired  to  rest  very 
contentedly,  though  not  without  missing  my  father's  fond 
kiss,  and  my  mother's 

"  Nightly  visit  to  ray  chamber  paid, 

That  she  might  know  me  warm  and  safely  laid ;" 

and  many  other  little  circumstances  connected  with  home, 
that  are  not  to  be  met  with  elsewhere,  and,  perhaps,  are 
little  thought  of  until  they  are  missed.  Every  thing 
seemed  strange  to  me  at  first ;  but  in  a  very  few  days  the 
novelty  of  the  scene  had  passed  away,  and  left  me  com- 
pletely settled  down  to  the  diet,  rules,  habits,  companions, 
and  employments  of  the  place. 


SCHOOL  ANECDOTES.  —  MY  GOVERNESS.  —  DR.  WATTS.— SCHOOL  PLAYS. — 
SKIPPING.  —  EXERCISE. — BIRDS,  BEASTS,  AND  FISHES. —THE  DOLPHIN. — 
THE    LION.  —  GOOSE  AND  SWAN.  —  DOG.  —  MY  LADY'S  TOILET. —  INVENTION. 

My  young  friends  desired  an  exact  description  of  my 
governess.  I  have  the  most  distinct  recollection  of  her 
figure,  dress,  and  manners ;  but  I  feared  that  I  should 
not  be  able  to  convey  the  impression  from  my  mind  to 
theirs.  I  thought  the  end  would  be  quite  as  well,  or 
better  answered,  if  I  could  recollect  and  impart  any  of 
her  good  instructions ;  but  Emily  assured  me  she  should 
pay  much  more  attention  to  the  instruction  if  she  could 
fancy  the  figure  of  the  good  lady  communicating  it. 

I  told  my  young  friends  to  imagine  a  lady  of  upwards 
of  fifty  years  of  age,  of  rather  diminutive  size,  her  fingers 
thin,  the  veins  on  the  back  of  her  hands  and  wrists  clear- 
ly discernible  through  a  clear  and  delicate  complexion  ; 
a  light  hazel  eye,  expressing  at  once  intelligence,  cheer- 


MY    GOVERNESS  —  DR.   WATTS.  71 

fulness,  and  gentleness ;  a  soft  and  gentle  voice,  little 
used  to  say,  "  I  insist  upon  it,"  yet  carrying  at  once  so 
much  firmness  and  persuasion,  that  it  must  be  a  perverse 
and  hardened  child  who  could  rebel,  or  disobey.  For 
dress,  you  must  bestow  on  her  tiny  feet  black  stuff  shoes, 
and  silver  buckles  ;  her  gown  must  be  a  neat  lilac  print, 
or  striped  Manchester  muslin,  the  sleeves  just  covering 
the  elbows,  and  edged  with  a  cambric  robin,*  nicely 
crimped  ;  a  clear  muslin  handkerchief,  with  a  border  of 
needlework,  pinned  down  behind,  and  a  white  cloth 
apron ;  her  silver  grey  hair  turned  back  over  her  fore- 
head ;  and  a  double-bordered  cap,  with  a  very  exact  bow 
pinned  just  in  front.  Such  was  my  governess.  Those 
who  knew  her  could  not  help  loving  her ;  and  those  who 
did  not  know  her,  can  hardly  think  how  kind  and  good 
she  was.  Her  health  was  delicate,  but  she  bore  her  suf- 
ferings with  such  meekness  and  patience,  and  received 
so  kindly  any  little  attention  paid  her,  as  both  endeared 
her  to  all  around,  and  also  tended  to  impress  on  their 
minds  a  sense  of  the  excellency  of  the  principles  that 
sustained  her.  I  used  to  fancy  that  I  was  a  favourite 
with  my  governess,  but  perhaps  that  was  only  my  vanity ; 
for,  on  conversing  with  my  fellow-pupils  since  coming  to 
years  of  maturity,  I  find  that  every  one  of  them  has  the 
same  impression.  One  thing,  however,  I  am  sure  :  not 
one,  at  the  present  day,  can  produce  more  little  old-fa- 
shioned trinkets  given  by  her  as  keepsakes,  nor  was  one 
more  frequently  advanced  to  the  post  of  honour  to  fetch 
the  pillow,  and  make  camomile  tea  for  her,  when  she  was 
unwell ;  to  tie  up  the  bow  for  her  cap,  and  to  crimp  her 

*  A  sort  of  diminutive  ruffle  at  the  elbow,  worn  by  elderly  ladies 
thirty  years  ago. 


72  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

clean  robins  on  a  Saturday  afternoon,  or  to  wind  skeins 
of  embroidery  silk,  and  tack  on  patterns  for  muslin  works. 
All  these  little  matters  were  generally  attended  to  out  of 
school  hours ;  and  being,  even  in  childhood,  rather  too 
fond  of  quietness,  I  was  glad  of  an  excuse  to  leave  the 
noisy  plays  of  my  school-fellows,  and  get  into  the  service 
and  society  of  my  governess.  On  these  occasions  she 
sometimes  allowed  me  to  accompany  her  to  an  arbour  in 
her  garden,  which  was  considered  no  small  treat,  as  the 
gate  which  opened  to  it  from  our  play-ground  was  a  bound- 
ary which  the  pupils  were  never  permitted  to  pass,  with- 
out special  leave.  0,  with  what  delight  have  I  listened 
to  her  anecdotes  of  many  eminent  persons  of  by-gone 
days  !  Mason,  the  author  of  a  Treatise  on  Self- Know- 
ledge—  have  all  my  young  friends  read  it?  —  was  the 
friend  and  pastor  of  her  youth.  The  great  and  good 
Dr.  Watts  was  the  intimate  friend  of  her  parents,  and  she 
fancied  she  had  a  recollection  of  hearing  of  his  death. 
Whether  this  recollection  was  real  or  traditionary,  many 
of  his  dying  sayings  were  deeply  impressed  on  her  me- 
mory ;  and,  as  she  often  said,  came  over  her  mind  with 
a  holy  sweetness  in  seasons  of  suffering  and  weakness. 
I  will  mention  two  or  three,  though  I  believe  they  are 
pretty  generally  known ;  the  sentiments  are  such  as  can- 
not be  too  deeply  riveted  on  the  youthful  mind.  When 
some  one  reminded  him  of  his  great  usefulness  in  the 
church  of  God,  he  replied,  "  Say  nothing,  say  nothing  — 
I  am  an  unprofitable  servant ;  the  glory  belongs  to  God 
for  using  such  an  instrument."  Another  was,  "  I  have 
only  the  simple  promises  of  the  gospel  to  rest  on,  and  I 
bless  God  they  are  simple  promises,  which  do  not  re- 
quire such  labour  or  pains  to  understand  them ;  for  I  can 
now  do  nothing  but  look  into  my  Bible  for  some  promise 


DR.   WATTS.  73 

to  support  me,  and  live  upon  that."  Again :  "  I  believe 
the  promises  of  the  gospel  enough  to  venture  an  eternity 
on  them ;"  and,  on  taking  leave  of  his  friends  for  the 
night  —  "  Good  night;  I  bless  God  that  I  can  lie  down 
and  compose  myself  to  sleep,  not  solicitous  whether  I 
awake  in  this  world  or  another."  When  my  dear  gov- 
erness related  to  me  these  and  similar  anecdotes,  she 
would  direct  me  to  a  verse  or  two  of  the  good  doctor's 
hymns  expressive  of  similar  sentiments  :  such  as  — 

"  A  guilty,  weak,  and  helpless  worm, 
On  thy  kind  arms  I  fall  ; 
Be  thou  my  strength  and  righteousness, 
My  Jesus,  and  my  all." 

"  Jesus,  my  God,  I  know  his  name, 
His  name  is  all  my  trust ; 
Nor  will  he  put  my  soul  to  shame, 
Nor  let  my  hopes  be  lost. 

"Firm  as  his  throne  his  promise  stands ; 
And  he  can  well  secure 
What  I've  committed  to  his  hands, 
Till  the  decisive  hour. 

"  Then  will  he  own  my  worthless  name 
Before  his  Father's  face ; 
And  in  the  new  Jerusalem 
Appoint  my  soul  a  place." 

My  governess  had  a  sweet  voice,  though  sometimes 
rendered  tremulous  by  affliction.  Often  has  she  sung 
with  me  the  verses  she  thus  pointed  out,  and  by  this 
means  many  a  precious  sentiment  has  been  lodged  in 
my  memory,  to  which  my  attention  might  not  otherwise 
have  been  directed,  but  which  has  proved  a  sweet  solace 
in  the  hour  of  affliction.  May  her  example  stimulate 
7 


74 


THE     GIRL'S    BOOK. 


myself  and  others  to  heed  the  sacred  injunction-^  "In 
the  morning  sow  thy  seed,  and  in  the  evening  withhold 
not  thine  hand ;  for  thou  knowest  not  which  shall  pros- 
per, whether  this  or  that,  or  whether  they  shall  both  be 
alike  good."  Before  I  pass  from  this  subject,  I  must 
mention  the  care  my  kind  instructress  took  to  impress  on 
my  mind,  what  I  too  would  labour  to  impress  on  the 
minds  of  my  dear  young  friends,  the  connexion  between 
a  tranquil  and  happy  death,  and  a  life  of  humble  reliance 
and  holy  consecration.  "  See,"  she  would  say,  when 
she  referred  me  to  the  hymn  I  last  quoted,  "  Dr.  Watts 
did  not  wait  till  he  came  to  die  before  he  committed  his 
soul  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  no  more  did  the  apostle 
Paul.  Those  who  put  off  this  great  concern  to  the  last, 
often  leave  it  altogether  neglected ;  or  if  they  are  roused 
to  consideration,  they  know  very  little  about  the  Lord 
Jesus,  and  perhaps  doubt  whether  he  will  receive,  and 
take  care  of  them :  but  those  holy  men  could  say,  *  I 
know  whom  I  have  believed,  and  am  persuaded  that  He 
is  able  to  keep  that  which  I  have  committed  to  him 
against  that  day.'"  Nearly  all  that  I  have  mentioned, 
is  recorded  in  the  Life  of  Dr.  Watts  ;  and  there  I  have 
read  it  again  and  again  with  pleasure,  greatly  heightened 
by  the  recollection  of  having  heard  the  anecdotes  from 
the  lips  of  my  governess,  as  she  received  them  from  her 
near  relative,  his  amanuensis,  who  attended  his  dying 
moments,  and  wrote  an  account  of  the  circumstances  to 
the  doctor's  brother  at  Southampton. 

My  governess  had  a  most  happy  knack  of  entering 
into  the  feelings  and  pursuits  of  children.  She  discover- 
ed a  benevolent  interest  in  promoting  their  innocent 
pleasures,  and  a  holy  aptitude  at  turning  every  thing  to 
good  account.     It  was  common,  when  she  was  tolera- 


SKIPPING.  75 

bly  well,  to  apply  to  her  to  preside  over  our  sports,  or  to 
invent  some  new  play  for  us.  Skipping  was  a  favourite 
exercise.  To  accustom  us  to  jump  with  agility  and  re- 
gularity, a  rope  was  provided  long  enough  for  the  whole 
school  to  skip  together,  one  girl  at  each  end  holding  the 
rope,  and  throwing  it  round  the  rest.  This  was  a  play 
in  which  I  never  could  succeed ;  almost  as  often  as  I 
was  admitted  to  try,  my  irregular  jump  threw  the  whole 
into  confusion,  the  rope  was  tangled,  the  girls  thrown 
down,  and  as  they  good-naturedly  scrambled  up  again, 
all  seemed  to  look  upon  me  as  the  author  of  the  mischief. 
*'  See,"  said  my  governess,  "  how  much  inconvenience 
may  result  from  one  breach  of  punctuality !  One  per- 
son failing  to  do  his  duty,  even  in  a  small  particular,  just 
at  the  right  time,  may  throw  a  whole  circle  into  disorder. 
Pray,  my  dear  girls,  guard  against  a  habit  of  being  a  mi- 
nute too  late  for  an  appointment,  a  minute  too  late  in 
bed,  a  minute  too  late  at  meals,  a  minute  too  late  at  the 
house  of  God.  Remember  every  thing  is  beautiful  in 
its  season.  Now,  little  Out-of-order,  (she  continued, 
addressing  herself  good-naturedly  to  me,)  will  you  try 
again,  or  stand  by  me,  and  see  how  long  the  rest  can  go 
on  without  you?"  I  preferred  the  latter,  and  counted 
fifty-seven  regular  jumps  of  the  whole  school.  After- 
wards, I  tried  again,  but  I  don't  think  at  that  time,  or  any 
other,  I  ever  exceeded  ten  jumps  successively,  without 
missing  the  rope ;  so,  as  I  justly  deserved,  I  was  con- 
signed to  the  awkward  division,  and  sentenced  to  skip 
alone.  To  say  the  truth,  I  was  not  very  fond  of  skip- 
ping at  all.  This  I  acknowledge  as  a  fault.  Skipping 
is  a  very  healthy  exercise,  and  I  would  recommend  every 
girl,  and  especially  if  she  feels  greatly  inclined  to  sit 
closely  to  reading  or  needle-work,  to  accustom  herself 


76  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

every  day,  as  a  duty,  to  take  at  least  an  hour's  exercise 
in  this,  or  some  other  equally  brisk  sport,  till  it  becomes 
a  pleasure  to  her,  which  it  certainly  will  in  time  to  every 
one  who  is  in  good  health.  For  want  of  this  persever- 
ance, many  girls  get  into  bad  health,  and  are  languid  and 
weakly  through  life.  An  unhealthy  person  cannot  be  so 
useful  in  the  family,  as  one  who  is  thoroughly  healthy 
and  brisk ;  therefore  it  is  a  duty  which  young  people  owe 
to  others  as  well  as  to  themselves,  to  accustom  them- 
selves to  whatever  is  likely  to  promote  their  health  and 
vigour.  Many  an  hour  have  I  sat,  unobserved,  in  a 
closet  appropriated  to  bonnets  and  bags,  when  I  ought 
to  have  been  among  the  rest  jumping  in  the  play-ground ; 
and  sometimes  I  have  been  fetched  out,  sorely  against 
my  will,  and  deprived  of  the  book,  which  so  improperly 
engrossed  my  attention :  and  from  my  long  experience 
of  severe  head-aches,  let  me  urge  on  my  young  friends 
always  to  bear  in  mind  Dr.  Watts's  happy  combination, 

"In  books,  or  work,  or  healthful  play," 

and  to  give  to  each  its  due  proportion. 

One  of  our  winter  evening  plays  was,  "  Birds,  beasts, 
and  fishes."  Every  girl  knows  the  play,  so  I  need  only 
mention  my  governess's  improvement  of  it.  My  young 
friends  will  recollect  that  each  chooses  for  herself  the 
name  of  some  animal,  which  she  gives  in  to  the  person 
who  presides,  but  conceals  it  from  the  rest.  The  youngest 
of  the  party  is  then  called  out  and  challenged,  "  Of  all  the 
beasts  on  the  earth,  all  the  birds  in  the  air,  and  all  the  fish- 
es in  the  sea,  find  me  out  a  lion,"  or  whatever  other 
animal  the  president  might  name.  If  the  little  seeker 
happen  to  fix  on  the  right  person,  she  was  then  brought 
out,  and  expected  to  answer  any  question  that  might  be 


BIRDS,    BEASTS,    AND    FISHES.  77 

put  to  her  concerning  the  animal  whose  character  she 
had  assumed  ;  and  I  assure  you  it  was  a  very  pretty  ex- 
ercise of  ingenuity,  both  to  propose  and  to  answer  the 
questions.  They  were  not  in  general  of  a  scientific 
character,  yet  such  as  gave  a  general  idea  of  the  habits 
of  animals,  and  often  elicited  interesting  anecdotes  of 
them.     I  will  give  you  a  specimen  or  two. 

One  little  girl  chose  to  call  herself  a  dolphin.  On 
being  called  out  by  that  name,  she  was  required  to  de- 
scribe the  creature.  She  described  it  as  a  great  hump- 
backed fish,  with  its  back  ever  so  far  above  the  water, 
and  holes  in  its  head,  through  which  the  water  is  thrown, 
and  plays  like  a  fountain.  Governess.  "  And  why  do 
you  choose  to  be  called  a  dolphin  V9  —  "  Because  it  is  a 
kind  fish,  and  when  there  is  a  shipwreck,  it  takes  the 
sailors  on  its  back,  and  carries  them  to  shore."  Gover- 
ness. "  Well,  that  is  a  good  reason  for  your  choice,  and 
I  hope  you  will  always  discover  a  kind  disposition,  and 
a  readiness  to  help  persons  in  distress.  But  as  far  as 
the  fish  is  concerned,  I  question  the  fact.  I  believe  it  is 
only  found  in  the  fables  of  historians  and  poets.  Miss 
Lindley,  you  have  lately  read  Natural  History  ;  do  you 
recollect  any  particulars  of  the  dolphin  ?" 

"  It  is  stated,  ma'am,  that  there  are  four  species  :  the 
white  fish,  the  grampus,  the  porpoise,  or  sea-hog,  and 
the  '  true  dolphin.'  The  white  fish  abounds  in  America, 
and  is  valuable  for  its  oil  and  skin,  of  which  a  leather  is 
made  resembling  morocco ;  which  though  thin,  is  strong 
enough  to  resist  a  musket-ball.  The  grampus  chiefly 
inhabits  the  northern  regions.  It  is  exceedingly  vora- 
cious, and  is  distinguished  as  the  great  enemy  of  the 
whale.  The  porpoise  is  very  abundant  in  the  seas  which 
surround  Great  Britain,  especially  at  the  time  when 
7* 


78  TH  E    G  IRL'S    BOOK. 

mackerel,  salmon,  or  herrings  appear,  and  pursues  these 
fishes  up  the  bays,  almost  as  a  dog  would  hunt  a  hare. 
The  porpoise  yields  a  large  quantity  of  excellent  oil. 
All  these  fish  swim  against  the  wind ;  and  at  the  approach 
of  a  storm  they  are  much  disturbed,  and  tumble  about  in 
the  most  grotesque  manner.  The  true  dolphin  is  that 
which  is  represented  in  pictures,  and  on  medals,  gene- 
rally with  a  human  being  seated  on  its  back.  The  form 
in  which  it  is  generally  depicted  is  not  natural  to  it,  but 
is  assumed  when  itJeaps  out  of  the  water.  The  account 
of  its  fondness  for  the  human  race  seems  to  be  entirely 
fabulous,  and  is  supposed  by  some  writers  to  have  origi- 
nated in  emblematical  representations  of  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  human  race  in  the  ark,  at  the  time  of  the  ge- 
neral deluge." 

Our  governess  said  she  would  tell  us  a  true  history, 
not  of  one  only,  but  of  several  lives  being  saved  by  means 
of  a  dolphin.     It  was  as  follows  : — 

"  There  is  in  Bristol  a  charitable  institution  called 
i  Colston's  School,'  from  the  name  of  its  founder.  The 
scholars  wear  on  their  breasts  the  figure  of  a  dolphin  in 
brass  ;  the  reason  of  which  is  as  follows  :  —  Mr.  Colston, 
a  rich  West  India  merchant,  was  coming  home  with  a 
ship  which  contained  all  his  treasure  ;  she  sprang  a  leak, 
and  after  having  pumped  for  a  long  time,  day  and  night, 
the  people  on  board  were  every  moment  expecting  to  go 
to  the  bottom.  All  at  once,  to  their  great  astonishment, 
the  leak  was  stopped.  On  examination,  it  was  found 
that  a  dolphin  had  providentially  squeezed  itself  into  the 
hole,  and  thus  saved  them  from  destruction.  Mr.  Col- 
ston founded  this  school ;  and  as  a  memorial  of  the  de- 
liverance, ordered  this  emblem  of  a  dolphin  to  be  worn 
as  a  mark  both  of  his  deliverance,  and  his  gratitude." 


A    GOSSIP THE    GOOSE    AND    SWAN.  '9 

Another  of  the  young  ladies  called  herself  a  lion, 
which  she  admired  as  distinguished  for  courage  and  ge- 
nerosity. As  an  instance  of  the  latter  quality,  she  men. 
tioned  having  seen  a  lion  in  the  Tower  of  London,  who 
had  spared  the  life  of  a  little  dog  that  was  thrown  to  it, 
and  which  it  treated  with  the  greatest  kindness  and  ten- 
derness. My  governess  observed  that  this  instance  was 
most  extraordinary  ;  and  that  it  would  not  be  safe  to  trust 
to  -the  generosity  and  compassion  of  a  lion.  As  to  its 
courage,  she  said  the  best  way  of  imitating  that,  was  by 
maintaining  a  good  conscience :  "  Guilt,"  said  she, 
"  makes  a  man  a  coward,  but  the  righteous  is  as  bold  as 
a  lion." 

One  very  little  girl  called  herself  a  goose  ;  all  present 
were  disposed  to  smile  at  her  preference,  which  she  jus- 
tified by  saying,  "  My  papa  chooses  me  to  be  called  a 
goose.  Some  company  once  talked  nonsense,  and  flat- 
tered me,  and  papa  begged  they  would  not  speak  so,  or 
they  would  make  him  reckon  his  goose  as  a  swan ;  and 
he  kissed  me,  and  called  me  his  little  goose.  If  papa 
loves  me  as  a  goose,  I'm  sure  I  don't  want  to  be  a 
swan."  That  saying,  remarked  my  governess,  is  very 
commonly  applied  to  the  undue  partiality  of  parents  for 
their  own  children.  It  is  very  foolish  to  think  of  them, 
and  especially  to  teach  them  to  think  of  themselves,  more 
highly  than  they  deserve.  The  goose  is  generally  reck- 
oned a  silly  bird ;  but  it  would  look  ten  times  sillier  than 
itself,  if  it  should  attempt  to  imitate  the  majesty  of  the 
swan :  just  so,  young  ladies  look  when  they  give  them- 
selves airs  of  affectation,  and  attempt  to  appear,  or  wish 
to  be  thought  in  any  respect  different  from  what  they 
really  are. 

Just  opposite  our  school  lived  a  notorious  gossip ;  she 


80  THE    GIRL'S  BOOK. 

was  often  seen  lolling  out  at  her  one-pair-of-stairs  win- 
dow by  the  half  hour  together,  talking  to  any  one  who 
would  stand  and  talk  with  her,  and  making  her  remarks 
upon  whatever  passed  in  the  street.  Just  as  our  gover- 
ness was  speaking  about  geese,  and  affected  young  la- 
dies, up  flew  Mrs.  Sibley's  window,  and  out  craned  her 
long  neck,  and  to  work  went  her  busy  tongue,  to  inquire 
who  all  those  ladies  could  be  that  had  just  gone  by  in 
Squire  Prescott's  carriage.  Our  window  was  open  ;  we 
could  not  help  catching  the  sound  of  her  shrill  voice ; 
and  one  of  our  number,  a  lively  girl,  exclaimed,  "  0, 
pray,  ma'am,  do  look  at  Mrs.  Sibley  :  is  she  not  just  like 
a  goose  on  a  common,  stretching  its  neck,  and  cackling 
at  every  horse  and  cow  that  goes  by?"  The  compari- 
son was  very  amusing  to  all  of  the  girls  ;  and  even  Mrs. 
P.,  with  all  her  gravity,  could  hardly  suppress  a  curl  in 
the  corner  of  her  lip.  For  myself,  I  must  own  I  have 
seldom  seen  a  silly  woman  gaping  in  idle  curiosity  after 
other  people's  affairs,  or  chattering  nineteen  to  the  dozen 
on  subjects  she  did  not  understand,  or  that  did  not  con- 
cern her,  but  the  goose  on  the  common,  and  Mrs.  Sib- 
ley looking  out  of  her  window,  have  presented  themselves 
to  my  mind.  This  trifling  anecdote  will  have  been  worth 
mentioning,  if  it  should  put  any  young  lady  on  her  guard 
against  deserving  such  degrading  comparisons  to  be 
applied  to  her.  A  sensible  woman  is  never  seen  look- 
ing out  of  the  window,  and  making  her  remarks  on  neigh- 
bours, or  passengers. 

The  river  that  flowed  at  the  end  of  our  garden  was 
frequented  by  a  pair  of  swans,  and  a  pair  of  geese,  each 
with  a  brood  of  young  ones.  We  were  much  interested 
in  observing  them,  and  feeding  them  with  bits  of  bread 
or  biscuit.     There  always  seemed  a  jealousy  between 


THE    SWAN.  81 

them.  The  old  birds  often  cast  a  scowling  look  at  each 
other,  and  sometimes  hissed,  and  napped  their  wings,  as 
if  preparing  for  a  battle.  At  length  they  had  a  violent 
encounter ;  I  cannot  take  upon  me  to  say  which  was  the 
aggressor,  nor  is  it  very  material.  In  most  quarrels  it 
is  hard  to  say  which  party  was  most  to  blame  at  first, 
and  often  they  begin  in  such  trifles  as  can  hardly  be  re- 
membered ;  but  if  neither  party  has  wisdom  and  humility 
enough  to  sacrifice  pride  for  peace,  the  contest  will  pro- 
bably lead  to  results  far  more  serious  than  either  had 
anticipated.  It  was  so  with  the  haughty  swan  and  gan- 
der. After  a  severe  struggle  in  the  open  river,  one 
chased  the  other  down  a  narrow  stream,  and  under  the 
arch  of  a  small  bridge.  It  was  during  a  high  flood,  and 
both  birds  perished  under  the  arch.  I  shall  never  forget 
the  anxious  plaintive  looks  of  the  widowed  swan  and 
goose,  who  remained  several  days  at  the  mouth  of  the 
stream,  expecting  the  return  of  their  partners.  Many 
scenes  as  disastrous  occur  in  human  society,  and  enforce 
the  caution  —  "The  beginning  of  strife  is  as  when  one 
letteth  out  water ;  therefore  leave  off  contention  before 
it  be  meddled  with." 

I  am  sorry  that  I  cannot  quite  recollect  some  lines 
repeated  to  us  by  our  governess,  which  ended  the  con- 
versation about  geese  and  swans.  They  are  founded 
on  the  fabulous  idea  that  the  swan  only  sings  just  before 
its  death. 

"  The  stately  swan,  while  living,  has  no  note 
Till  death  shall  come  to  close  its  silent  throat : 
Leaning  her  head  upon  the  reedy  shore, 
She  sung  her  first  and  last,  and  sung  no  more. 

And  thus,  expiring,  cries, 

'  There  are  more  geese  than  swans,  more  fools,  than  wise.'" 


82  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

The  dog  was  a  general  favourite;  and  seldom  was 
the  play  adopted  without  eliciting  some  interesting  anec- 
dote of  his  sagacity  and  fidelity.  However  often  told, 
these  anecdotes  are  interesting  still.  Who  has  not  read 
with  delight  the  touching  account  of  Argus,  the  celebra- 
ted dog  of  Ulysses,  who  recognised  his  master  after 
twenty  years'  absence,  though  he  came  home  weather- 
beaten,  and  way-worn,  and  in  the  garb  of  a  beggar? 

Rogers,  in  his  "  Pleasures  of  Memory,"  describes  the 
fidelity  of  the  dog  in  a  very  touching  manner,  and  invites 
the  memory  to 

"  Recall  the  traveller,  whose  alter'd  form 
Has  borne  the  buffet  of  the  mountain  storm  ; 
And  who  will  first  his  fond  impatience  meet  ? 
His  faithful  dog's  already  at  his  feet. 
Yes !  though  the  porter  spurns  him  from  the  door, 
Though  all  who  knew  him  know  his  face  no  more, 
The  faithful  dog  shall  tell  his  joy  to  each 
With  that  mute  eloquence  that  passes  speech. 
And  see,  —  the  master  but  returns  to  die  — 
Yet  who  shall  bid  the  watchful  servant  fly  ? 
The  blasts  of  heav'n,  the  drenching  dews  of  earth, 
The  wanton  insults  of  unfeeling  mirth  ? 
These,  when  to  guard  misfortune's  sacred  grave, 
Will  firm  fidelity  exult  to  brave." 

One  of  our  companions  had  lately  visited  Ditc'hley 
House,  in  Oxfordshire,  where  she  had  seen  the  painting 
of  a  mastiff  who  saved  the  life  of  his  master,  Sir  Harry 
Lea.  Underneath  are  the  words,  "  More  faithful  than 
favoured."  The  dog,  it  seems,  had  been  little  noticed 
by  his  master,  and  scarcely  ever  admitted  to  his  pres- 
ence, but  was  fed  by  a  servant,  in  whom  the  greatest 
confidence  was  placed.  This  servant,  however,  proved 
treacherous,  and  laid  a  plot  to  rob  and  mu.der  his  mas- 


DOGS.  83 

ter,  which  was  defeated  by  the  unaccountable  instinct 
and  fidelity  of  the  dog,  who  placed  himself  under  his 
master's  bed,  and  pertinaciously  resisted  all  attempts  to 
remove  him.  When  the  villain  approached  to  attempt 
his  deadly  purpose,  the  dog  seized  him,  although  it  was 
the  person  by  whom  he  had  been  regularly  fed,  and 
against  whom  he  had  no  other  cause  of  displeasure. 
Thus  the  master's  life  was  preserved,  and  the  villain 
brought  to  justice. 

Another  circumstance  was  mentioned,  in  which  the 
parties  were  well  known  to  my  parents.  It  took  place 
many  years  ago,  when  robberies  in  the  outskirts  of  Lon- 
don were  much  more  frequent  than  at  present,  since  so 
much  improvement  has  been  effected  in  lighting  and 
watching.  A  good  man,  belonging  to  the  Old  Artillery 
Company,  having  to  attend  an  exercise  in  the  Artillery 
Ground,  his  wife  accompanied  him ;  they  afterwards 
visited  a  friend  in  Moorfields,  and  about  dusk  set  off  on 
their  return  home.  They  had  not  gone  far  before  they 
were  joined  by  a  large  Newfoundland  dog,  which  they 
in  vain  endeavoured  to  drive  off.  They  even  returned 
to  the  house  of  their  friend,  hoping  that  when  the  door 
was  shut  on  the  strange  dog,  he  would  take  himself 
away.  But  when  again  they  left  the  house,  their  com- 
panion was  waiting  for  them  :  the  good  woman  felt 
rather  timid,  but  her  husband  persuaded  her  to  go  on, 
and  not  regard  the  animal,  who  did  not  seem  at  all  dis- 
posed to  injure  them.  They  proceeded  ;  and  in  passing 
through  Stepney  church-yard  were  met  by  a  very  ill- 
looking  man,  who  came  towards  them,  and  then  turned 
back,  and  joined  two  or  three  companions  who  waited  in 
the  porch.  As  Mr.  and  Mrs.  K.  passed  the  porch,  they 
distinctly  heard  the  angry  interrogation,  "  Why  have  you 


84  THE    GIRL'S     BOOK. 

not  done  it?"  and  the  reply,  with  an  oath,  "  I  could  not ; 
they  had  such  a  great  dog  with  them."  The  feelings  of 
the  worthy  couple  were  now  very  different  towards  their 
uninvited  companion,  whom  they  could  not  but  regard 
as  a  protector,  sent  them  by  Him  who  has  all  creatures 
at  his  command.  The  faithful  dog  accompanied  them 
till  they  reached  their  home,  but  no  persuasions  could 
induce  him  to  enter  the  house. 

These  anecdotes  elicited  many  inquiries  on  the  sub- 
ject of  the  animal  instinct.  One  little  girl  inquired  whe- 
ther the  dog  had  overheard  the  wicked  men  talking  of 
their  intention  1  another  thought  it  possible  that  without 
hearing  and  understanding  their  language,  the  dog  might 
observe  something  in  their  manners,  when  the  man  and 
woman  passed  in  the  afternoon,  that  indicated  an  inten- 
tion to  injure  them,  and  induced  him  to  follow  as  their 
protector.  But  it  was  unanimously  agreed  that  the  pro- 
tection must  be  ascribed  to  the  kind  interference  of  Pro- 
vidence. Such  interferences,  observed  our  governess, 
are  exerted  on  our  behalf  every  day  of  our  lives. 
Though  we  do  not  immediately  discern  them,  we  ought, 
much  more  than  we  do,  humbly  to  commit  ourselves  to 
the  Divine  care,  and  to  feel  constant  gratitude  for  pro- 
tection and  preservation  every  day  and  every  night  of 
our  lives. 

Mrs.  P.  had  so  much  kindness  and  cheerfulness  as 
well  as  solemnity  of  manner,  that  remark  from  her 
never  seemed  out  of  place.  It  commanded  attention, 
and  cast  over  the  little  group  a  mellowness  of  feeling, 
without  any  thing  like  gloom  or  interruption  of  pleasure. 
I  do  not  imagine  that  all  her  useful  sayings  were  re- 
membered by  all  the  girls,  or  any  of  them  by  some,  yet 
I  cannot  doubt  that  some  of  her  hints,  given  even  in  play 


DOGS.  85 

hours,  have  proved  like  a  nail  fastened  in  a  sure  place, 
to  hang  on  valuable  instruction,  and  afford  real  profit 
through  life. 

Among  the  instances  of  sagacity  in  dogs,  there  were 
two  with  which  I  was  much  interested  ;  they  were  men- 
tioned by  an  old  gentleman  visiting  at  our  school,  to 
whom  the  facts  were  well  known.  1  think  also,  that  one, 
or  both,  are  recorded  in  Bingley's  Animal  Biography. 
A  gentleman  from  Lancashire  was  in  the  habit,  twice  a 
year,  of  taking  a  journey  to  London  on  horseback,  ac- 
companied by  a  faithful  little  terrier  dog ;  which,  how- 
ever, he  did  not  take  into  London  with  him,  but  left  it  at 
St.  Alban's,  in  the  care  of  the  landlady  at  the  inn.  After 
remaining  in  London  two  or  three  weeks,  he  called  for 
the  dog  on  his  way  home.  On  one  occasion  the  land- 
lady, with  great  concern,  told  him  that  his  little  dog  was 
lost ;  that  almost  immediately  after  he  had  left  the  house, 
their  great  house  dog  had  set  on  the  little  terrier,  and  bit 
him  so  that  they  thought  he  must  have  been  killed  before 
they  could  be  parted.  It  then  crawled  out  of  the  yard, 
and  was  missing  for  nearly  a  week,  when  most  unexpect- 
edly he  returned,  accompanied  by  a  very  large  mastiff. 
The  little  dog,  with  an  appearance  of  the  greatest  confi- 
dence and  satisfaction,  conducted  his  powerful  friend  to 
the  great  dog  who  had  injured  him ;  and  both  of  them 
together  bestowed  on  the  aggressor  a  chastisement  full 
as  severe  as  the  injury  he  had  inflicted.  They  then  dis- 
appeared together,  and  had  not  since  been  seen  at  St. 
Alban's.  The  gentleman  marvelled  at  the  relation,  and 
was  exceedingly  grieved  at  the  loss  of  his  little  favour- 
ite ;  but  what  was  his  astonishment,  on  arriving  at  his 
house  in  Lancashire,  to  find  the  dog  safe  there !  On  in- 
quiry, it  was  proved  that  the  dog  had  paid  a  previous 
8 


86  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

visit  to  home,  evidently  for  the  express  purpose  of  throw- 
ing himself  on  the  protection  of  his  old  friend,  whom, 
with  every  fond  art,  he  enticed  away  to  become  his 
champion.  It  is  a  mean  and  dastardly  thing,  as  well  as 
highly  criminal,  to  injure  or  oppress  any,  because  they 
are  apparently  without  the  means  of  resistence  or  re- 
dress, and  such  conduct  is  often  very  unexpectedly 
punished.  We  have  even  the  highest  and  most  sacred 
authority  for  saying,  "  Rob  not  the  poor  because  he  is 
poor,  neither  oppress  the  afflicted  in  the  gate ;  for  the 
Lord  will  plead  their  cause,  and  spoil  the  soul  of  those 
that  spoiled  them." 

The  other  canine  anecdote,  to  which  I  referred,  dis- 
played benevolence  connected  with  sagacity,  equal  to 
the  resentment  which  was  discovered  in  the  former  case. 
A  dog  having  been  severely  injured,  was  taken  to  a  sur- 
geon, who  set  a  fractured  limb,  and  dressed  his  wounds. 
After  being  once  or  twice  carried  thither,  he  regularly 
went  of  his  own  accord,  until  perfectly  cured.  When- 
ever, afterwards,  he  chanced  to  meet  the  surgeon  in  the 
street,  he  ran  to  him,  wagged  his  tail,  crouched  at  his 
feet,  licked  his  hand,  and  laboured  to  express  his  grati- 
tude and  attachment.  Nor  was  this  all :  another  dog 
happening  to  be  injured  in  a  similar  way,  he  conducted 
him  to  the  house  of  the  benevolent  surgeon,  and,  in  all 
but  verbal  language,  placed  his  suffering  companion  un- 
der the  care  and  skill  of  which  he  had  proved  the  benefit 
by  experience.  Since  the  stupidity  and  ingratitude  of 
man  are  in  Scripture  reproved  by  a  reference  to  the  ox 
and  the  ass,  (Isaiah  i.  3,)  we  are  warranted  in  adopting 
the  example  of  this  grateful  and  benevolent  dog,  to  sti- 
mulate us,  if  we  know  any  thing  of  the  great  Physician 
of  souls,  to  evince  our  gratitude  by  speaking  his  praise, 


MY    LADY'S    TOILET.  &7 

and  by  directing  other  wounded  souls  to  repair  to  him  for 
healing. 

Another  common  play  which  was  turned  to  good  ac- 
count, is  called  "  My  lady's  toilet."  It  is  a  lively  play, 
and  when  we  had  tired  ourselves  with  the  jumping  part 
of  it,  we  sat  down  to  rest  ourselves ;  and  each  girl 
gave  some  account  of  the  article  by  which  she  had  chosen 
to  distinguish  herself.  This  was  really  an  improving 
exercise,  especially  for  the  little  ones ;  and  sometimes 
drew  forth  from  the  elder  girls  recollections  of  what  they 
had  read,  or  anecdotes  of  what  they  had  seen,  as  well  as 
gave  an  opportunity  of  correcting  those  mistaken  ideas 
of  common  things,  which  children  are  very  apt  to  enter- 
tain. The  most  simple  conversation,  to  which  a  rational 
turn  is  given,  can  hardly  fail  of  doing  some  good  ;  at  all 
events  it  is  better  than  talking  nonsense.  Thus,  — 
44  Well  Goody  Twoshoes,  what  are  shoes  made  of?" 
"  Leather."  "  What  is  leather?"  "  The  skin  of 
beasts."  "  How  is  it  prepared  for  use  ?"  "  By  tan- 
ning." "  What  do  you  mean  by  tanning  1"  "  The 
skins  are  taken  to  the  tanyard  ;  but  —  I  don't  quite  know 
what  they  do  to  them  there."  "  I  can  tell  you  a  little 
about  it :  my  father  is  a  tanner ;  and  when  I  was  a  very 
little  girl,  he  taught  me  to  remember  these  few  things  :  — 
The  skins  of  large  animals,  such  as  oxen,  are  called 
hides ;  they  are  very  thick,  and  used  for  the  soles  of 
shoes.  The  skin  of  calves,  seals,  and  goats,  is  thinner 
and  softer,  and  this  is  used  for  the  upper  leather  of  shoes. 
There  are  three  things  to  be  done  to  hides  and  skins. 
The  hair  is  to  be  got  off:  for  this  purpose  they  are  hung 
in  a  close,  smoky  room,  which  loosens  the  hair,  and  then 
they  are  scraped  with  a  large  knife.  Then  the  skins 
must  be  prepared  for  putrefying,  and  made  to  keep  out 


S3 

water :  for  this  purpose  they  are  first  steeped  several 
times  in  lime  water,  and  afterwards  in  oak  bark  and 
water.  They  lie  in  this  for  several  weeks  ;  then,  when 
the  bark  becomes  poor,  they  take  it  out  and  put  fresh, 
and  keep  doing  so  till  the  skins  are  tanned  enough. 
Then  they  dry  them  gradually,  and  press  them  smooth." 

"  Why,"  said  one  of  the  young  ladies,  "  are  the  skins 
kept  steeping  so  long  in  the  pits  1 " 

Governess.  "  That  the  astringent  property  of  the  oak 
bark  may  soak  into  all  the  pores,  and  harden  the  leather. 
The  skin  of  animals  is  like  a  kind  of  net- work  :  you  may 
have  observed,  when  you  are  very  hot,  that  the  perspira- 
tion seems  to  start  out  of  a  number  of  little  holes  or 
pores  ;  the  bark  binds  and  hardens  the  skin,  and  dries  up 
these  pores,  so  that  afterwards  water  cannot  easily  pass 
through  them." 

"  I  know  what  astringent  things  do  to  leather,"  said 
another,  "  for  I  once  set  about  to  dye  some  gloves.  I 
had  heard  that  logwood  and  alum  were  used  to  dye  pur- 
ple :  so  I  got  a  pennyworth  of  logwood,  and  a  penny- 
worth of  alum,  and  boiled  them  together,  and  dipped  three 
pair  of  gloves.  After  soaking  for  an  hour  or  two,  they 
shrunk  to  a  very  small  size ;  but  I  hoped  they  would 
come  to  rights  in  drying :  instead  of  that,  when  dry  they 
were  quite  thick  and  hard,  and  not  much  larger  than  a 
doll's  glove.  My  mamma  said  it  was  the  astringent  pro- 
perty of  the  alum  that  had  done  it ;  and  the  worst  of  it 
was,  I  had  to  buy  new  gloves  out  of  my  pocket-money 
for  having  dyed  my  others  without  leave.  But  I  suppose 
the  tanners  manage  better  with  their  leather." 

Governess.  "  Yes  ;  their  business  is  to  understand 
the  proper  proportions  of  their  different  ingredients,  and 
the  time  required  for  the  process ;    and  when  you  try 


INVENTION.  89 

such  another  experiment,  it  will  be  better  for  you  to  obtain 
more  correct  information  before  you  set  about  using  a 
pennyworth  or  two  of  ingredients,  or  an  hour  or  two  of 
time." 

A  little  one  here  asked,  "  I  wonder  how  people  at  first 
found  the  way  of  preserving  the  skins  of  animals,  and 
making  them  useful  f 

Governess.  "  Like  most  other  useful  discoveries,  it 
was  probably  at  first  accidental.  But  then  there  must 
have  been  thoughtful,  observant  persons,  who  took  notice 
of  what  they  saw,  and  applied  it  to  purposes  of  practical 
utility.  Suppose  that  a  skin,  having  been  left  out  in  the 
field  for  some  considerable  time,  it  should  be  observed 
that  a  part  of  it  was  corrupted,  and  another  part  compa- 
ratively dry  and  sound,  it  would  become  a  matter  of  in- 
quiry what  could  have  produced  the  difference  ?  and  it 
would  be  found  that  the  sound  part  had  come  in  contact 
with  some  vegetable  substance,  or,  perhaps,  some  differ- 
ent kind  of  earth,  or  mineral  water,  which  had  not  come 
in  contact  with  the  other  part.  This  would  suggest  the 
idea  that  the  change  had  been  effected  by  means  of  the 
vegetable  or  the  mineral  substance.  To  prove  this,  the 
careful  observer  would  try  another  skin,  brought  under 
the  influence  of  the  same  body ;  after  several  trials,  it 
would  be  established  as  a  matter  of  science,  that  such  a 
combination  would  produce  such  a  change.  On  this  dis- 
covery, gradual  improvements  would  be  made  as  to  pro- 
portions, time,  and  other  particulars,  until  the  art  attained 
its  present  state  of  advancement.  There  is  something 
very  interesting  in  tracing  the  invention  and  improve- 
ments of  the  various  arts  of  life.  Only  think  how  much 
invention,  ingenuity,  and  industry,  must  have  been  em- 
ployed in  erecting  and  furnishing  our  habitations,  in 
8* 


90  THE     GIRL'S     BOOK. 

clothing  our  persons,  and  in  affording  us  all  the  various 
conveniences  we  enjoy !  " 

"  Do  you  think,  ma'am,"  added  another/"  that  people 
will  still  go  on  to  invent,  or  do  you  think  that  every  thing 
useful  has  been  already  found  out? " 

Governess.  "  I  have  no  doubt  that  invention  and  dis- 
covery will  go  on  as  long  as  the  world  remains.  The 
stores  of  nature  are  boundless  ;  and  every  year  is  add- 
ing to  the  list  of  those  employed  for  the  service  of  man, 
and  convincing  us  that  nothing  has  been  made  in  vain. 
Every  person  who  invents,  or  finds  out  the  properties 
and  uses  of  things,  which  were  before  unknown,  deserves 
to  be  regarded  as  a  benefactor  to  mankind." 

"  I  should  very  much  like  to  invent  or  find  out  some- 
thing useful,"  said  an  intelligent  girl.  "  Do  you  think  I 
could  if  I  were  to  try  1 " 

Governess.  "  I  should  not  recommend  you  to  spend 
time  in  speculating,  and  trying  to  invent,  without  a  speci- 
fic object ;  but  rather  to  pay  attention  to  whatever  comes 
under  your  notice,  taking  every  opportunity  of  gaining 
information,  and  of  applying  what  you  know  to  practi- 
cal purposes.  If  you  habitually  do  this,  I  think  it  is 
hardly  likely  that  you  should  go  through  life  without 
making  some  discovery  or  improvement,  that  will  prove 
really  useful.  At  all  events,  you  will  acquire  an  aptitude 
at  doing  common  things  properly,  which  will  conduce,  in 
no  small  degree,  to  the  welfare  and  comfort  of  those  by 
whom  you  are  surrounded.  It  is  an  effort  of  female  in- 
vention of  no  mean  value,  that  enables  the  mistress  of  a 
house  to  provide  comfortably  for  her  family  and  guests, 
at  the  least  possible  expense  of  time  and  property,  and 
that  furnishes  her  with  the  means  of  feeding  or  clothing 
the  needy  from  those  shreds  of  materials  and  time,  which 
her  less  managing  neighbour  suffers  to  run  to  waste." 


INVENTION.  91 

It  was  just  after  this  conversation  on  invention,  that 
some  of  the  young  ladies  started  a  plan,  which  was  soon 
pretty  generally  adopted  in  the  school,  that  of  working 
up  all  our  little  odds  and  ends  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor. 
Several  pretty  little  cradle-quilts  were  made  of  patch- 
work ;  some  who  had  finished  pieces  of  embroidery,  or 
worsted  work,  used  up  their  remnants  of  silk  in  pin- 
cushions and  watch  pockets  ;  of  worsted,  in  kettle  hold- 
ers ;  and  of  lamb's  wool  in  baby's  shoes.  Under  the  di- 
rection of  our  kind  governess,  these  articles  were  sold, 
and  the  produce  expended  on  the  purchase  of  flannel, 
calico,  and  printed  cotton,  which  afforded  fresh  amuse- 
ment to  make  up  for  the  use  of  poor  children.  "  TV  ell," 
said  my  governess,  "  I  congratulate  you,  my  dear  chil- 
dren, on  your  ingenuity  and  invention,  and  especially  on 
the  beneficial  direction  you  have  given  to  them ;  I  am 
rather  disposed  to  honour  you  than  the  inventor  of  gun- 
powder, or  of  ardent  spirits,  —  those  curses  of  mankind." 


CHAPTER   V, 


SCHOOL  ANECDOTES  CONTINUED.  —  CONVERSING  IN  FRENCH.  —  WRITING  FROM 
DICTATION.  —  PRECISION.  —  EXPLETIVES.  —  QUESTIONS  AT  THE  DINNER  TA- 
BLE.—  THE  OSTRICH.  —  PRECIOUS  POSSESSIONS. — MR.  B.  ,THE  WRITING- 
MASTER. —  EXERCISES.  —  LETTERS.  —  HABITS.  —  PUNISHMENTS.  —  THE  LY- 
ING APRON.  —  INSURRECTION. 

It  was  the  custom  with  us,  as  I  believe  it  is  in  most 
schools,  to  converse  only  in  French.  It  really  did  seem 
very  hard  and  awkward  to  be  thus  restricted,  especially 
in  play  hours,  and  when  addressing  those  girls  who  did 
not  learn  French ;  and  I  never  could  quite  discern  the 
reason  of  it :  but  the  measure  was  adopted  by  wiser  heads 
than  mine.  Perhaps  it  was  wisely  designed  as  a  check 
to  the  unnecessary  use  of  the  organs  of  speech  —  an  ex- 
travagance to  which  young  ladies  are  generally  supposed 
to  be  more  or  less  addicted.  Certain  it  is,  that  there  was 
no  deficiency  even  with  this  embargo,  though  there  was 
a  strong  desire  for  emancipation  from  it :  and  this  peti- 
tion was  the  usual  adjunct  to  our  expression  of  thanks 
for  the  grant  of  a  holiday.    "  The  young  ladies  hope  you 


CONVERSING  IN    FRENCH.  93 

will  be  pleased  to  crown  the  indulgence  by  permitting 
them  to  speak  English."  I  am  glad  it  does  not  devolve 
upon  me  to  record  the  number  of  words  that  on  these 
occasions  flowed  from  twenty  or  thirty  merry  tongues  at 
once  set  loose  from  all  restrictions,  I  hope  I  may  say, 
except  those  of  truth  and  propriety.  A  kind  friend  once 
took  a  little  girl  of  mine  to  ride  in  her  carriage.  On  their 
return,  the  little  girl  said,  "  Mother,  I  have  been  so  happy, 
for  Mrs.  H.  let  me  talk  all  the  way."  If  this  frank 
avowal  accords  with  the  feelings  of  little  girls  in  general, 
as  I  am  inclined  to  think  it  does,  it  suggests  the  need  of 
caution,  that  they  do  not  indulge  this  propensity  of  speak- 
ing, when  they  ought  to  be  silent,  or  when  they  might, 
with  greater  advantage,  be  listening  to  the  conversation 
of  others. 

The  misconstruction  of  French  phrases  by  the  English 
scholars,  was  often  a  source  of  amusement.  I  remem- 
ber asking  a  good-natured  little  girl  to  lend  me  a  map  of 
Europe,  from  which  to  copy.  "  Yes,  that  I  will ;  I  un- 
derstand you  ;  I  will  fetch  it  directly."  Away  she  bound- 
ed, pleased  with  an  opportunity  of  obliging,  and  pleased 
at  having,  as  she  thought,  so  readily  understood  my  re- 
quest ;  and  in  a  moment  brought  me  her  skipping  rope, 
having  mistaken  Europe  for  your  rope. 

Another,  a  new  scholar,  who  was  not  so  good  temper- 
ed, but  ready  to  take  offence  at  what  she  did  not  under- 
stand, made  a  formal  complaint  to  my  governess,  that  the 
girls  called  her  bad  names  in  French.  On  being  ques- 
tioned, she  replied,  "  They  are  always  calling  me  Kel- 
lority."  "  And  what  does  Kellority  mean  1 "  asked  my 
governess.  "  I  do  not  know,"  she  replied  indignantly ; 
"  but  I  think  it  has  something  to  do  with  my  name,  being 
Kitty,  and  I  know  they  say  it  on  purpose  to  vex  me." 


94  THE     GIRL'S     BOOK. 

The  fact  was  this :  Kitty  was  the  only  girl  in  the  school 
who  had  a  watch,  which  was,  in  consequence,  a  general 
object  of  attraction  and  curiosity,  and  they  frequently 
crowded  round  her,  and  asked,  "  Quel  heure  est  il  ?" — 
"  What  o'clock  is  it?"  Our  touchy  companion  was  not 
easily  convinced  that  no  offence  was  intended.  Our  gov- 
erness kindly  checked  the  laugh  that  was  going  round  at 
her  expense,  and  took  the  opportunity  of  impressing  on 
us  all  the  importance  of  not  being  soon  angry  : 

"  For  every  trifle  scorn  to  take  offence, 
That  always  shows  great  pride  or  little  sense ;" 

and  those  persons  do  much  to  promote  their  own  happi- 
ness, and  the  happiness  of  those  around  them,  who  would 
rather  overlook  twenty  designed  affronts,  than  once  suf- 
fer themselves  to  be  angry  and  resentful  where  no  offence 
was  intended.  This  is  worth  notice  by  the  young  ladies 
of  the  present  day. 

A  very  improving  practice  adopted  in  our  school,  was 
that  of  writing  from  dictation.  My  governess  generally 
herself  read  a  few  sentences  either  in  prose  or  verse, 
from  some  approved  author,  which  we  wrote  after  her, 
and  then  showed  up  our  slates  for  correction.  This  ex- 
ercise served  at  once  to  ascertain  our  proficiency  in  spell- 
ing, and  our  understanding,  both  of  words  in  general, 
and  of  the  sense  of  the  author  in  that  particular  passage, 
as  well  as  to  communicate  to  an  intelligent  mind  the  real 
meaning  of  a  passage.  Many  a  fluent  reciter  was  thus 
detected  in  utter  ignorance.  Some  who  professed  to  be 
very  fond  of  poetry,  but  who,  in  fact,  were  only  taken 
with  the  jingle  of  numbers  and  rhyme,  when  they  heard 
the  words  repeated,  according  to  the  sense,  were  found 
utterly  incapable  of  reducing  them  to  lines  or  stanzas. 


AWKWARD   MISTAKES.  95 

Sometimes  words  of  similar  sound,  but  of  different  spell- 
ing and  signification,  were  adopted,  which  made  complete 
nonsense,  and  proved  that  the  sentiment  of  the  author 
had  never  reached  the  mind  of  the  transcriber.  I  remem- 
ber reading  of  a  "  hermit  who  dwelt  in  a  moss-grown 
sell,"  of  the  "  moon  being  in  its  wain,"  and  of  the  "  whi- 
tened beech"  and  the  "  poet's  baize,"  "  a  small  leek  will 
sink  a  great  ship."  In  an  ingenious  enigma,  descriptive 
of  a  new-born  child,  one  of  our  number  wrote  — 

"  Bear  were  his  feet,  and  bear  his  head." 

But  the  most  diverting  blunder  was  committed  on  Cow- 
per's  apostrophe  to  tobacco  — 

"  Pernicious  weed !  whose  scent  the  fair  annoys,"  Sac. 

One  girl  showed  up  her  slate  with  — 

"  Pernicious  weed,  who  sent  the  fair  Ann  Hoys." 

You  may  suppose,  that  when  these  mistakes  appeared, 
it  was  not  easy  to  suppress  a  general  titter  at  the  writer's 
expense  ;  but  I  always  observed  in  our  good  governess, 
a  marked  difference  of  manner  when  correcting  a  simple 
misapprehension,  or  any  want  of  information  which  it  was 
no  disgrace  not  to  have  possessed,  and  when  reproving 
a  mingled  display  of  ignorance,  pertness,  and  self-con- 
ceit. In  the  first  instance,  in  the  mildest  and  gentlest 
manner,  she  led  the  young  learner  to  find  out  the  sense 
of  the  author,  without  exposing  her  to  mortification  at 
having  mistaken  it ;  but  in  the  other,  she  certainly  had  a 
talent  for  making  a  vain,  conceited  girl,  appear  very  lit- 
tle and  contemptible  in  her  own  eyes.  To  avoid  such 
mortification,  as  well  as  to  ensure  real  improvement,  our 
governess  recommended  us,  whenever  we  met  with  a  word 


96  THE    GIRL'S     BOOK. 

either  in  books  or  in  conversation,  which  we  did  not  ex- 
actly understand,  at  once  to  refer  to  the  dictionary  ;  or,  if 
we  had  not  a  dictionary  at  hand,  to  make  a  memorandum 
of  the  word,  and  take  the  earliest  opportunity  of  exam- 
ining. She  was  even  so  kind  as  to  permit  us,  if  a  word 
so  occurred  while  reading  to  her,  to  seek  the  explanation 
before  we  proceeded.  "  I  would  rather,"  she  observed, 
"  that  you  should  read  half  a  page  with  understanding, 
than  half  a  volume  merely  by  the  eye  and  ear ;  and  I 
think  you  are  more  likely  to  receive  and  retain  an  exact 
explanation  by  searching  for  yourselves  in  the  dictionary, 
than  by  receiving  it  from  me."  I  recollect  in  this  man- 
ner being  taught  to  distinguish  between  different  modi- 
fications of  the  same  word,  especially  those  compound- 
ed with  the  particles  dis  or  in.  My  young  readers  will 
excuse  my  mentioning  this ;  but  I  have  sometimes  re- 
ceived or  read  polite  and  neatly  written  notes,  in  which 
there  has  been  a  want  of  precision  in  these  little  particu- 
lars, sufficient  to  subject  the  writer  to  the  charge  of  ig- 
norance or  inattention. 

A  friend  of  mine  once,  when  recommending  a  young 
woman  to  service,  observed  that  she  had  been  particu- 
larly pleased  with  her  civil  and  respectable  manner  of 
speaking  to  her  employers.  I  have  no  doubt  she  meant 
respectful.  I  could  not  take  the  liberty  of  correcting  her, 
but  a  moment's  consideration  would  have  taught  her  that 
respectable  means  worthy  of  respect  from  others  ;  respect- 
ful means  yielding  respect  to  others.  In  like  manner, 
some  persons  in  using  the  inseparable  particle  in,  un, 
dis,  &c,  are  not  particular  in  observing  whether  they 
wish  to  express  them  in  a  privative  or  merely  a  negative 
sense.  I  have  heard  young  ladies  (who,  by  the  way, 
are  rather  apt  to  use  a  longer  word,  when  a  shorter  would 


EXPLETIVES PROVINCIALISMS.  97 

serve  as  well  or  better,)  speak  of  a  person  being  incapa- 
citated for  a  certain  office,  when  they  merely  meant  that 
he  was  incapable.  My  governess  would  have  said,  — 
"  Pray,  miss,  was  he  ever  capable  1  and  if  so,  by  what 
means  did  he  become  incapacitated  ?  An  infant  is  in- 
capable of  walking.  One  person  is  incapable  of  read- 
ing a  book,  because  he  has  never  learned  to  read  at  all, 
or  to  read  the  language  in  which  the  book  is  written  ;  but 
another  is  incapacitated  from  reading  the  book,  because, 
though  he  perfectly  understands  the  language,  he  is 
blind."  One  of  our  scholars,  who  was  a  half-boarder, 
and  in  the  habit  of  receiving  and  delivering  messages, 
one  day  asked,  "  Pray,  ma'am,  is  the  errand-man  want- 
ing to-day  V1  "  I  hope  not,  Miss  Jones  ;  If  I  thought  he 
were  as  greatly  wanting  in  care  and  fidelity,  as  you  are 
in  a  correct  use  of  the  English  language,  I  should  be  very 
loth  to  employ  him ;  but  not  having  hitherto  found  him 
wanting,  he  is  wanted  to-day  to  call  at  the  worsted  shop, 
in  Newgate-street,  and  match  these  patterns  of  lamb's- 
wool  and  floss-silk."  By  such  illustrations,  she  would 
so  completely  fix  a  distinction  in  our  minds,  that  there 
was  not  much  danger  of  our  again  confounding  the  words. 
This  reminds  me  of  my  governess's  way  of  curing  her 
scholars  of  the  use  of  unmeaning  expletives  and  vulgar 
provincialisms,  which  were  generally  brought  in  by  new 
scholars,  and  which,  if  not  corrected,  were  sure  to  be  imi- 
tated. Perhaps  the  style  of  some  young  ladies  in  the 
present  day  might  be  improved,  if  they  would  tax  them- 
selves to  look  in  the  dictionary  for  the  meaning  of  every 
word  which  they  have  been  accustomed  to  use  in  an  un- 
meaning connexion.  "  My  head  aches  like  any  thing," 
was  the  common  complaint  of  an  indolent  little  girl,  when 
she  wanted  an  excuse  for  laying  aside  her  book  or  work. 
9 


98  THE    GIRL'S   BOOK. 

"  Indeed!"  said  my  governess, "  does  it  ache  like  a  house, 
a  tree,  a  stone,  a  horse,  a  bird,  a  fish?  Come,  look  out 
these  six  words  in  the  dictionary,  and  see  what  the  things 
they  express  have  to  do  with  the  head-ache." 

"  Please,  ma'am,"  said  a  new  scholar  from  Hunting- 
donshire, "  I  asked  Miss to  hitch  a  little  farther, 

and  she  wont  budge  for  me." 

"  Be  kind  enough,  my  dear,  to  explain  to  us  the  mean- 
ing of  those  elegant  words,  and  then  I  doubt  not  your 
companion  will  render  you  the  desired  accommodation. 
Let  us  hear  what  Dr.  Johnson  says  on  the  subject.  To 
hitch,  says  the  lexicographer,  is  to  catch,  to  move  by 
jerks ;  he  can  find  but  one  instance  of  its  use,  and  there 
he  does  not  well  know  what  it  means.  Budge,  he  informs 
us,  is  to  stir,  to  move  off  the  place  ;  but  he  adds, '  it  is  a 
low  word.'  Now»"  continued  my  governess,  "  as  we  do 
not  wish  to  adopt  unmeaning  or  low  words  here,  if  you 
ask  Miss  Thomson  to  move  a  little  farther,  she  will  un- 
derstand your  meaning,  and  comply  with  your  request." 
A  few  such  exercises  generally  effected  a  cure. 

Among  our  school  customs,  I  must  not  forget  that  at 
the  dinner  table  the  young  ladies  were  permitted,  and  re- 
quired each  in  turn,  to  propose  a  question,  which,  accord- 
ing to  its  nature,  was  sometimes  answered,  and  some- 
times discussed.  In  case  the  girl  whose  turn  it  was? 
could  not  start  any  question  of  her  own,  she  was  at 
liberty  to  select  one  from  a  little  book  which  always  lay 
on  the  table.  I  do  not  know  the  title  of  the  book,  but  as 
far  as  I  can  recollect,  the  questions  were  mostly  on  the 
Scriptures,  with  a  reference  to  the  passages  where  the  an- 
swer might  be  found ;  such  as,  "  What  bird  is  character- 
ized in  Scripture  by  silliness,  cruelty,  and  want  of  under- 
standing V9    "  The  ostrich,  Job  xxxix.  17."     "What 


QUE  STIONS   AT    DINNER-TABLE.  99 

particular  instances  are  given  V  "  Her  neglect  of  her 
young ;  she  leaves  her  eggs  in  the  sand  to  be  hatched  by 
the  sun,  and  does  not,  like  other  birds,  confine  herself  to 
attend  to  them,  but  forgets  that  they  are  her  own,  and 
carelessly  leaves  them  exposed,  to  be  crushed  by  the  foot 
of  the  passenger."  "By  what  properties  is  the  ostrich 
distinguished  V  "  By  its  stature,  its  plumage,  and  its 
swiftness,  Job  xxxix.  13  —  18."  "  Do  you  recollect  any 
instance  of  silliness  in  the  ostrich  not  expressly  mention- 
ed in  Scripture,  but  of  which  you  have  read  in  Natural 
History?"  "The  ostrich  will  flee  from  her  pursuers 
with  incredible  swiftness,  and  can  for  hours  outrun  the 
fleetest  horses,  which  are  trained  for  the  purpose  of  hunt- 
ing her.  But  if  she  finds  that  her  strength  begins  to  fail, 
and  her  pursuers  are  likely  to  overtake  her,  she  hides  her 
head  in  the  sand,  and  imagines  that  they  cannot  see  her ; 
thus  she  is  infallibly  taken."  "  What  characters  among 
men  may  be  said  to  resemble  the  ostrich !"  "  Those  pa- 
rents who  neglect  to  take  care  of  their  children,  Lam.  iv. 
3."  "  Those  who  are  careless  of  their  property,  and  suf- 
fer it  to  be  injured  or  wasted  for  want  of  proper  care." 
"  Those  who  are  more  distinguished  by  outward  appear- 
ance, than  by  mental  and  moral  worth."  "  Those  who 
employ  their  abilities  merely  for  their  own  interests,  to  the 
neglect  of  the  welfare  of  others,  especially  of  those  who 
have  the  strongest  claims  upon  them."  "  Those  who  at- 
tempt to  conceal  their  sins,  and  flatter  themselves  they 
can  escape  detection  by  the  eye  of  God." 

"  What  possessions  has  Solomon  characterized  as 
precious  V9  "  Wisdom,  Prov.  iii.  15  ;  the  substance  of 
a  diligent  man,  Prov.  xii.  27 ;  the  lips  of  knowledge, 
Prov.  xx.  15  ;  a  virtuous  woman,  Prov.  xxxi.  10  ;  a  good 
name,  Prov.  xxii.  1  ;  Eccles.  vii.  1."     On  these  pas- 


100  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

sages  other  questions  would  be  grounded,  such  as, 
•*  What  did  Solomon  mean  by  wisdom  V9  "  True  reli- 
gion." "  Wherein  consists  its  preciousness  V9  "  It  is 
that  by  which  alone  we  can  enjoy  and  improve  life,  and 
be  fitted  for  death,  judgment,  and  eternity." 

"  How  is  the  substance  of  a  diligent  man  precious  V9 
"  Because  it  results  from  the  blessing  of  Heaven  on  his 
own  industry."  "  Because  he  sets  a  proper  value  upon 
it,  and  does  not  squander  it  as  do  the  idle  and  vicious." 
"  Because  he  enjoys  it  with  a  good  conscience  and  a 
contented  mind."  "  Because  he  turns  it  to  good  ac- 
count, and  so  it  becomes  a  blessing  to  himself  and 
others  " 

"  Why  are  the  lips  of  knowledge  precious?"  "  Be- 
cause knowledge  is  excellent  and  valuable  in  itself." 
"  Because  the  lips  of  knowledge  impart  that  which  may 
be  of  great  utility  to  others.  The  sayings  of  a  wise  man 
have  taught  wisdom  to  many,  and  have  been  the  means 
of  preserving  them  from  the  way  of  vice  and  folly." 
"  Because  the  lips  of  knowledge  are  scarce ;  foolish, 
vain,  and  unprofitable  words  are  much  more  common 
than  such  as  are  wise  and  profitable." 

"  What  are  the  characteristics  of  a  virtuous  woman, 
as  enumerated  in  Prov.  xxxi.  1"  "  Industry  :  she  layeth 
her  hands  to  the  spindle,  and  her  hands  hold  the  distaff, 
ver.  19  ;  she  eats  not  the  bread  of  idleness,  ver.  27." 
"  Discretion  and  good  management :  she  considers,  and 
then  buys,  ver.  16."  "  The  heart  of  her  husband  may 
safely  trust  in  her,  ver.  11."  "  She  looks  well  to  the 
ways  of  her  household,  ver.  27."  "  Wisdom:  she 
openeth her  mouth  with  wisdom,  ver.  26."  "  Forecast  : 
she  provides  against  winter  before  it  comes,  ver.  21." 
"  Kindness :  in  her  tongue  is  the  law  of  kindness,  ver. 


QUESTIONS    AT    DINNER-TABLE.  101 

26."  "  Charity :  she  stretches  out  her  hands  to  the  poor 
and  needy,  ver.  20."  "  Affection  and  fidelity  to  her  hus- 
band: her  husband  trusts  her,  ver.  11 ;  praises  her,  ver. 
28  ;  and  has  his  credit  and  reputation  increased  by  her, 
23."  "Pious  care  for  her  children:  they  arise  up  and 
call  her  blessed,  ver.  28."  "  Virtue  in  general :  Many 
daughters  have  done  virtuously,  but  thou  excellest  them 
all,  ver.  29."  "  Piety  :  Favour  is  deceitful,  and  beauty 
is  vain ;  but  a  woman  thatfeareth  the  Lord,  she  shall  be 
praised,  ver.  30."  "  Why  is  such  a  woman  esteemed 
so  precious,  as  to  be  valued  far  above  rubies  \"  "  Be- 
cause she  is  truly  excellent  and  honourable  in  herself." 
"  Because  she  diffuses  happiness  through  the  circle  in 
which  she  moves."  "Because  the  effect  of  her  good 
instructions  and  example  are  extended  to  families  and  ge- 
nerations beyond  thes  phere  of  her  own  immediate  con- 
nexions, and  the  period  of  her  mortal  life." 

"  Why  is  a  good  name  precious  V1  "  Because  it 
gains  a  man  more  respect  and  love  than  riches  alone 
could  do."  "  Because  an  established  character  is  a 
perpetual  restraint  from  evil,  and  a  stimulus  to  what  is 
good.  We  do  not  willingly  consent  to  any  thing  which 
would  sully  our  good  name."  "  Because  a  good  name 
gives  weight  to  all  our  endeavours  to  instruct  and  do 
good  to  others.  The  best  instruction  and  advice  are  often 
rendered  useless  by  the  inconsistencies  of  those  who 
offer  them ;  but  a  blameless  and  honourable  character 
gives  weight  to  the  words  of  truth  and  soberness."  "  Be- 
cause a  good  name  outlives  its  possessor." 

"  Then  I'll  not  be  proud  of  my  wealth,  youth,  or  beauty, 
Since  all  of  them  wither  and  fade  ; 
But  gain  a  good  name  by  well  doing  my  duty, 
'Twill  scent  like  a  rose  when  I'm  dead." 
9* 


102  THE    GIRL$S    BOOK. 

But  I  must  not  go  on.  These  examples  will  serve  by 
way  of  specimen ;  and  should  the  plan  be  adopted  in  any 
family  or  school,  it  can  hardly  fail  of  suggesting  some 
instructive  hints,  and  at  least  employing  the  time  better 
than  in  idle  and  unprofitable  gossip. 

The  instructions  of  our  writing-master  were  not  con- 
fined, as  is  commonly  the  case,  to  writing  and  arithmetic  ; 
and  even  in  these  he  contrived,  in  an  unusual  degree,  to 
blend  intellectual  with  mechanical  improvement.  His 
arithmetical  questions  combined  some  interesting  fact  in 
history  which  was  thus  indelibly  impressed  on  our 
minds.  Even  his  reproofs  and  directions  in  the  matter 
of  holding  a  pen,  were  sure  to  slip  in  some  sentiment 
which  perhaps  retained  a  stronger  hold  from  the  indirect 
way  in  which  it  was  insinuated.  "  Don't  cramp  your 
fingers  together,  and  give  us  little,  mean,  cringing-look- 
ing letters,  like  a  man  who  knows  he  has  done  something 
to  be  ashamed  of."  "  Well,  I  dare  say  you  think  this  a 
fine  copy,  but  none  of  your  painting  for  me  !  Make  a  bold 
stroke,  and  do  the  best  you  can  at  once.  Even  if  you 
fail,  maintain  your  own  character ;  any  thing  is  better 
than  touching  and  retouching  to  hide  a  fault,  and  trying  to 
appear  different  from  what  you  are.  However  rude  and 
clumsy  the  first  strokes,  I  have  hope  of  a  child  who  is 
content  to  let  them  appear  as  they  are,  and  to  endeavour 
to  correct  faults  in  her  next  attempt."  In  a  rather  or- 
namental copy,  a  long  s  was  employed  where  the  letter 
was  not  doubled,  or  if  doubled,  two  long  letters.  The 
pupil  inquired  if  this  was  proper.  "  You  may,  some- 
times," replied  Mr.  B.  "  sacrifice  strict  propriety  to  ele- 
gance, but  never  truth  or  integrity.  Some  things  are 
rendered  proper,  merely  by  arbitrary  custom,  and  may 
be  set  aside ;  but  the  principles  of  right  or  wrong  are 


EXERCISES  —  WEEKLY    LETTERS.  103 

immutable.  However,  where  custom  is  indifferent,  it  is, 
perhaps,  as  well  not  wantonly  to  deviate  from  it ;  a  short 
s  would  have  been  quite  as  well  in  this  place,  except  that 
it  would  not  have  lead  you  to  inquire  whether  it  was 
established  upon  principle  or  custom."  By  the  same 
worthy  master  we  were  instructed  in  geography,  history, 
and  astronomy ;  and  most  delightful  were  the  hours  de- 
voted to  familiar  lectures  and  conversation  on  these  sub- 
jects, when  we  were  encouraged  to  ask  any  questions  or 
mention  any  difficulties,  which  led  to  our  receiving  in- 
struction far  more  specific  and  satisfactory  than  could 
possibly  have  been  attained  by  merely  reading  or  com- 
mitting to  memory. 

Our  exercises  were  so  contrived  as  to  promote  im- 
provement in  several  particulars  at  once.  If  a  problem 
on  the  globe  was  given,  we  were  expected,  after  having 
been  instructed  in  it  by  Mr.  B.,  to  work  it  by  ourselves, 
and  write  a  description  of  the  working  in  our  own  words, 
to  be  shown  up  at  his  next  visit-  In  geography,  the 
name  of  a  country,  island,  or  city,  was  given  as  the 
ground  of  a  weekly  exercise.  We  were  to  search  in 
Gazetteers  or  other  works  for  particulars,  and  then  to 
write,  in  our  own  words,  an  account  of  its  situation,  ex- 
tent, population,  customs,  and  historical  connexions.  In 
history,  the  reign  of  a  monarch,  or  the  name  of  some 
distinguished  statesman,  hero,  or  other  character,  form- 
ed the  text,  each  pupil  being  required  to  inform  herself  of 
the  date  of  his  history,  and  the  leading  incidents  of  his 
life,  and  to  make  some  remarks  on  the  prevailing  excel- 
lences or  defects  of  his  character.  Sometimes  these 
exercises  were  varied,  by  substituting  a  popular  proverb 
or  sententious  maxim,  on  which  we  were  to  express  our 
thoughts  in  writing  ;  such  as,  "  Prosperity  gains  friends, 


104  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

adversity  tries  them."  "  Man,  know  thyself;  all  wis- 
dom centres  here."  "  Procrastination  is  the  thief  of 
time."  These  juvenile  exercises  were  not  looked  upon 
with  a  very  critical  eye.  I  observed  that  our  kind  master 
was  more  disposed  to  encourage  than  to  intimidate.  If 
any  erroneous  sentiment  was  expressed,  he  gently  point- 
ed out  the  error,  but  seemed  much  better  pleased  when 
he  could  commend  a  correct  inference,  or  a  happy  illus- 
tration. How  kindly  would  he  pat  the  head,  and  say, 
"  Well,  my  dear  child,  what  books  have  you  consulted 
on  this  subject?  I  am  delighted  to  find  that  you  have 
thought  so  justly  upon  it.  Maintain  these  sentiments, 
and  act  on  these  principles,  and  you  will  be  through  life 

respectable  and  happy.     F is  a  book  which  you 

might  read  with  advantage.  Inquire  whether  your  papa 
has  it  in  his  library.  If  not,  I  shall  be  happy  to  lend  it  you 
as  a  reward  for  that  very  excellent  exercise."  Happy 
was  the  girl  who  gained  this  token  of  approbation. 

Another  profitable,  but  sometimes  very  embarrassing 
exercise,  was  that  of  writing  a  weekly  letter  to  our  go- 
verness, containing  an  outline  of  our  various  studies  and 
pursuits  through  the  week,  with  occasional  remarks  on 
the  authors  we  had  been  reading,  or  on  the  characters 
that  had  been  brought  before  us.  But  here  was  the  try- 
ing part :  we  were  also  required  to  give  a  faithful  record 
of  our  own  progress  and  conduct.  I  may  appeal  to 
my  young  friends  whether  they  think  it  was  very  plea- 
sant to  make  entries  such  as  these  :  —  "I  am  sorry  to 
say  that  I  have  lost  my  place  in  the  spelling  class ;" 
"  that  I  have  had  more  than  once  to  forfeit  for  not  being 
up  in  due  time  in  the  morning ;"  "  that  I  have  several 
times  had  the  mark  for  talking  in  school  hours ;"  "  that 
I  have  been  guilty  of  perverseness  and  obstinacy  in  re- 


WEEKLY   LETTERS.  105 

fusing  to  do  what  was  justly  required  of  me  ;"  "  that  I 
have  been  detected  in  a  fault  which  I  endeavoured  to 
conceal  by  dissimulation ;"  "  that  I  have  been  put  to  the 
bottom  of  the  class  for  secretly  copying  the  exercise  of 
another,  instead  of  working  it  out  myself."  0,  the  burn- 
ing cheeks  and  tardy  fingers  with  which  such  entries 
were  made !  Yet,  I  doubt  not  the  habit  of  self-examina- 
tion was  very  beneficial ;  and  even  the  consciousness 
that  our  conduct  would  again  come  under  our  own  re- 
view, and  that  of  our  governess,  often  operated  as  a  sa- 
lutary check  or  stimulus  in  the  moment  of  temptation  or 
of  tardiness.  I  well  remember  being  the  subject  of  two 
bad  habits,  which,  though  not  in  themselves  morally  cri- 
minal, subjected  me  to  frequent  reproof,  and  generally  in 
some  degree  clogged  my  weekly  letter.  —  "1  regret  to 
say  that  you  have  frequently  had  occasion  to  reprove  me 
for  stooping  my  head  and  holding  my  needle  awkward- 
ly ;"  or,  in  some  happier  weeks,  —  "I  have  endeavoured 
to  pay  more  attention  to  the  correction  of  my  bad  habits ; 
those  especially  of  stooping  my  head,  and  holding  my 
needle  awkwardly.  I  venture  to  hope,  that  my  endea- 
vours have  not  been  without  success,  and  that  my  ge- 
neral conduct  has  met  your  approbation." 

On  reviewing  that  period  of  my  life,  I  cannot  help 
thinking  that  if  I  had  regarded  any  bad  habit,  however 
trifling  in  itself,  which  gave  pain  to  my  parents  or  my 
governess,  as  an  act  of  disobedience,  and  had  set  myself 
resolutely  to  resist  and  conquer  it,  the  record  might,  in 
time,  have  ceased  to  blot  my  weekly  letter,  which,  I  am 
afraid  never  was  the  case.  One  of  those  habits  I  know 
was  never  broken  through,  and  I  have  reason  to  think  it 
has  been  productive  of  injurious  consequences  to  my 
health.     Let  me  advise  my  young  friends  not  to  make 


106  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

light  of  the  formation  of  any  habit,  however  trifling.  If 
a  parent  or  teacher  has  repeatedly  to  say,  "  Hold  up 
your  head  —  sit  upright,"  the  question  becomes,  not,  Is 
it  of  any  consequence,  whether  I  hold  up  my  head,  or 
whether  I  stoop  1  but  —  "  Whether  I  am  obedient  and  at- 
tentive, or  the  reverse."  Growing  years  will  reward 
every  conscientious  attempt  to  resist  and  break  through 
a  bad  habit,  or  they  will  reproach  the  carelessness  and 
self-indulgence  that  suffered  it  to  grow. 

My  young  friends  wished  to  be  informed  what  pun- 
ishments were  employed  by  my  governess.  I  think  she 
must  have  been  very  sparing  in  the  use  of  that  branch  of 
governance,  for  I  have  no  recollection  of  enduring,  and 
scarcely  any  of  witnessing,  its  infliction,  except  in  two 
or  three  very  distressing  cases,  the  impression  of  which 
will  never  be  obliterated  from  my  mind.  In  general,  I 
think,  if  she  had  observed  any  thing  wrong,  she  took  the 
offender  aside,  and  tenderly  and  affectionately  set  before 
her  the  impropriety  of  her  conduct ;  the  punishment  was 
generally  a  secret  between  the  governess  and  the  trans- 
gressor. Some  little  privation  was  fixed  on  in  some 
way  connected  with  the  offence  ;  and  it  was  much  more 
frequently  left  to  the  honour  of  the  pupil  to  refrain  from 
the  proscribed  indulgence,  than  openly  forbidden  by  the 
authority  of  the  governess.  It  was  different  when  the 
offence  was  of  a  public  nature,  and  such  as  to  set  a  bad 
example.  In  that  case,  the  punishment  was  contrived  to 
operate  co-extensively  with  the  injury.  The  punish- 
ment of  deliberate  falsehood  was  tremendous.  I  am 
happy  to  say  that  it  occurred  only  twice  during  the  period 
of  my  being  at  school.  The  offender  was  seated  apart 
from  the  rest  of  the  scholars,  wearing  an  apron  of 
white  canvass,  on  which  she  was  compelled  to  mark,  in 


LYING   APRON.  107 

large  glaring  letters,  the  record  of  her  own  disgrace. 

"  [Name,] told  a  falsehood,   [date,] " 

This  apron  she  wore  a  week  ;  after  which  it  was  laid  by, 
and  never  brought  out  except  on  a  similar  melancholy 
occasion.  The  punishment  certainly  was  effectual  in 
promoting  a  general  dread,  and  I  hope,  detestation  of 
the  crime  ;  but  I  have  sometimes  thought  whether  such 
an  indelible  disgrace  might  not  have  a  tendency  to  dis- 
courage penitence  in  one  who  had  transgressed.*  How- 
ever, the  methods  pursued  by  my  excellent  governess 
were  so  conscientious,  wise,  and  successful,  that  I 
scarcely  venture  to  indulge  a  thought  of  censure  against 
any  particular  measure,  but  am  rather  inclined  to  think 
there  must  have  been  some  misapprehension  on  my  part 
as  to  the  nature  and  circumstances  of  the  infliction. 
Certain  it  is,  that  no  gibbeted  malefactor,  of  which,  in 
my  childhood,  there  were  several  remained  in  different 
parts  ofEngland,everstruck  half  the  horror  into  my  mind, 
as  that  which  was  associated  with  the  "  lying  apron,"  of 
which,  and  of  the  two  names,  one  in  scarlet  silk,  the 
other  in  green,  I  have  as  distinct  a  recollection  as  if  I 
had  seen  it  worn  yesterday.  I  am  thankful  for  the  ge- 
neral influence  of  the  transaction,  but  should  I  now  hap- 
pen to  meet  with  either  of  those  individuals,  perhaps 
now  irreproachable  and  exemplary  characters,  I  should 
regret  that  the  record  of  their  childish  transgression  could 
never  be  obliterated  from  my  memory.  My  dear  young 
friends  will  do  well  to  remember  that  there  is  a  record 
yet  more  imperishable,  which  chronicles  the  thoughts, 

*  We  think  with  the  author,  that  in  most  cases,  such  a  punish- 
ment would  have  a  bad  influence,  in  producing  mortification,  and 
exciting  angry  feelings,  rather  than  leading  the  heart  to  penitence 
and  reformation.  —  Ed.  ( 


108  THE    GIRL'S   BOOK. 

words,  and  actions  of  every  day,  which  will  ere  long  be 
exhibited  before  an  assembled  world,  and  from  which  a 
foul  entry  can  never  be  erased,  except  by  the  precious 
blood  of  Christ. 

"  And  must  the  crimes  that  I  have  done 
Be  read  and  publish'd  there  ; 
Be  all  expos'd  before  the  sun, 
While  men  and  angels  hear? 

"  Lord,  at  thy  feet  asham'd  I  lie, 
Upward  I  dare  not  look  • 
Pardon  my  sins  before  I  die, 
And  blot  them  from  thy  book. 

"  Remember  all  the  dying  pains 
Which  my  Redeemer  felt  ; 
And  let  his  blood  wash  out  my  stains, 
And  answer  for  my  guilt." 

The  subject  of  punishments  recalls  to  my  recollection 
the  discipline  exercised  on  one  of  our  number,  who  was 
addicted  to  the  mean,  disgraceful  practice  of  pilfering 
any  little  nicety  that  might  come  in  her  way.  The  girls 
had  frequently  found  their  sweetmeats  nibbled  by  teeth, 
apparently  not  those  of  mice.  Complaints  had  been 
made  by  those  who  had  put  away  seven  prunes  or  figs, 
and  found  only  five  remaining ;  and  it  was  indisputably 
ascertained  that  certain  pieces  of  pound  cake  had  de- 
creased both  in  size  and  weight.  These  things  had  long 
been  murmured  among  the  girls.  At  length  the  French 
teacher  observed  that  the  lumps  of  sugar  in  her  basin 
disappeared  with  unaccountable  rapidity,  and  a  jar  of 
raspberry  jam  was  nearly  emptied.  Suspicion  was  di- 
vided between  the  young  lady  already  alluded  to,  and 
the  servant,  whose  business  gave  her  occasional  access 


PILFERING.  109 

to  the  cupboard,  where  these  matters  were  deposited. 
And  here  I  cannot  help  observing  as  an  additional  argu- 
ment against  any  little  sly  trick,  the  danger  of  an  inno- 
cent person  being  injured  by  unjust  suspicion.  Who, 
for  the  poor  momentary  gratification  of  appetite,  would 
run  the  hazard  of  throwing  unjust  suspicion  on  a  poor 
servant  who  might  thus  lose  the  confidence  of  her  em- 
ployers, and  the  situation  in  which  she  gains  her  liveli- 
hood ?  A  consultation  was  held  between  the  teachers  on 
the  affair  of  the  raspberry  jam.  A  day  or  two  afterwards 
Miss  R.  was  seized  with  violent  sickness.  The  anxie- 
ties of  our  kind  governess  were  quickly  excited,  but  al- 
most as  quickly  transferred  from  a  physical  to  a  moral 
disease,  when  the  teachers  informed  her  that  they  had 
mixed  with  the  small  remnant  of  raspberry  jam  a  taste- 
less emetic  powder.  She  then  judiciously  resolved  on 
following  up  the  punishment,  and  directed  that  the  pa- 
tient should  be  put  on  the  sick  list,  fed  upon  water-gruel, 
bread  without  butter,  mutton  broth,  and  other  spare  diet, 
and  dosed  with  rhubarb  and  soda  three  times  a  day, 
the  doses  just  powerful  enough  to  be  nauseous,  without 
any  possibility  of  being  injurious.  I  think  this  discipline 
was  carried  on  for  a  week ;  and  I  believe  the  bitter  me- 
dicine proved  a  cure  for  the  sickly  propensity  after  unal- 
lowed sweets.* 

About  the  time  of  my  first  going  to  school,  two  sisters 
came  in ;  they  were  great  girls,  and  had  been  some 
years  at  a  school  which  they  considered  of  a  much  higher 
order  than  ours.  I  believe  there  was  not  that  strict 
attention  paid  to  order  and  discipline.     These  young 

*  Some,  perhaps,  will  doubt  whether  this  punishment  was  alto- 
gether judicious.      As  the  disease  was  principally  moral,  they 
would  prefer  to  have  had  the  remedy  moral  also. — Ed. 
10 


HO  THE     GIRL'S     BOOK. 

ladies  were  high-spirited  and  clever,  but  they  brought  in 
many  rebellious  notions,  declaring  they  would  never 
submit  to  this  or  that  rule  of  the  establishment ;  and  in 
case  of  disobedience,  threatened  defiance  against  the 
infliction  of  punishment.  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  they  too 
far  succeeded  in  infusing  a  spirit  of  insubordination  and 
discontent  among  several  of  the  younger  ones,  who  be- 
fore had  never  felt  any  inclination,  any  more  than  they 
had  occasion,  to  complain  of  oppression,  injustice,  or 
severity.  It  was  long  before  their  mischievous  influence 
was  wholly  eradicated ;  and  it  was,  I  doubt  not,  a  source 
of  great  grief  and  trouble  to  our  good  governess.  How- 
ever, when  they  found  that  the  laws  of  the  house  were 
firm,  and  that  rebellion  only  exposed  themselves  to  pain 
and  mortification,  by  degrees  they  settled  down  into 
compliance,  and  were  just  and  honourable  enough  to 
acknowledge  that  they  had  reason  for  thankfulness  in 
the  restraints  and  discipline  against  which  at  first  they 
so  violently  murmured. 

The  fifth  of  November  being  a  whole  holiday,  these 
girls  had  drawn  two  or  three  others  into  some  grand 
scheme  of  mischief.  I  do  not  exactly  know  what  it  was  ; 
and  if  I  did,  it  might  be  better  not  to  tell.  However,  it 
was  found  out,  and  three  ringleaders  were  sentenced  to 
spend  the  remainder  of  the  holiday  in  their  bed-room  on 
a  water-gruel  diet.  They  made  a  farther  attempt  to 
break  away  from  this  penance,  which  was  visited  by  a 
heavier  punishment.  I  remember  that  those  who  that 
morning  at  breakfast  time  had  been  boasting  of  their 
noble  contempt  of  school  discipline,  the  next  morning 
looked  remarkably  silly  and  crestfallen ;  and  they  were 
not  afterwards  so  fond  of  proposing  their  daring  schemes, 
nor  were  others  so  readily  drawn  in  to  join  them. 


CHAPTER Y I 


SCHOOL   ANECDOTES    CONTINUED.  —  A   PARCEL   FROM   HOME.  —  A  DAY  OUT. — 

THE  MANOR-HOUSE.  —  THE  PARSONAGE. A  HAPPY  DEATH.  —  MR.  AND  MRS. 

H. DEATH     OF   MR.    H.  —  CURING    DISLIKES.  —  UNJUST    SUSPICION.  —  THE 

FARM-HOUSE  VISIT. — WANSTED. — SUPERSTITION. — DISAPPOINTMENT  OVER- 
RULED.—  ELECTIONEERING.  —  DEATH  OF  SCHOOL-FELLOWS.  —  BREAKING 
UP.  —  GOING   HOME. 


Parents,  in  general,  are  ever  desirous  of  promoting 
the  gratification  of  their  children,  and  during  the  absence 
of  a  child  at  school,  I  need  not  tell  my  young  friends  how 
common  it  is  to  devise  some  method  of  conveying 
pleasure  to  herself  and  her  companions.  Hence  the 
frequent  arrival  of  that  cumbrous  cargo  of  delight,  a 
school  parcel.  0 !  the  eager  curiosity,  the  whispering 
and  surmisings  excited  by  the  announcement,  "  There 
is  a  parcel  come  !  "  "  Who  is  it  for  1 "  "  How  large 
is  it  1 "  "  What  does  it  look  like V  "I  think  it  is  for 
me."  "I  am  almost  sure  it  is  for  me;  for  mamma 
promised  to  send  me  something  about  the  middle  of  my 
quarter."     "  I  have  no  doubt  it  is  for  me,  for  to-morrow 


112 


THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 


is  my  birth-day."  "  How  I  do  long  to  know !"  These, 
and  similar  conjectures,  sadly  diverted  the  attention  from 
school  business,  and  the  time  of  suspense  seemed  intol- 
erably long.  I  recollect  more  than  one  instance  in  which 
lessons  were  neglected,  and  disgrace  incurred  by  the 
happy  girl  to  whom  the  parcel  belonged ;  and  thus  her 
pleasure  was  damped  and  perhaps  deferred  through  over- 
eagerness  and  haste  to  enjoy  it.  It  were  well,  both  in 
early  and  maturer  life,  to  exercise  habitual  self-control 
and  stead/  principle,  which  will  give  the  first  place  to 
duty,  and  the  second  to  pleasure.  Self-denial  is  the  price 
of  real  enjoyment.  Well,  whether  the  hours  seemed 
leaden-footed  or  feather-footed,  twelve  o'clock  was  sure 
to  come,  neither  retarded  nor  expedited  by  the  arrival  of 
the  parcel ;  and  then,  how  anxiously  was  the  door  watch- 
ed, until  the  signal  arrived,  "  Miss ,  you  are  wanted 

in  the  parlour  !  "  0,  with  what  joyful  trepidation  was 
the  summons  obeyed  !  The  same  signal,  of  course, 
conveyed  something  like  a  feeling  of  disappointment  to 
every  other  young  expectant,  soothed,  however,  by  the 
hope,  "  Well,  another  day  mine  will  come  ;  "  or  by  the 
benevolent  sympathy  that  can  appropriate  the  joys  of 
another.  Then  the  unpacking  of  the  parcel.  How 
much  impatience  was  sometimes  felt,  when  our  good, 
neat  governess  desired  that  the  string  should  be  untied, 
not  cut  and  wasted,  the  paper  folded  up,  and  the  hay 
cleared  away  without  litter.  The  anxious  affectionate 
eye  darted  first  on  the  letter.  What  delight  was  im- 
parted by  the  assurance,  that  all  was  well  at  home,  and 
the  kind  remembrances  and  inquiries  of  dear  absent 
friends !  What  sadness  was  generally  mingled  by  the 
intelligence  of  the  death  or  illness  of  some  relative, 
neighbour,  or  companion !  —  one,  perhaps,  who  had  been 


A    PARCEL    FROM    HOME.  113 

seen  a  few  weeks  back,  in  perfect  health,  or  one  with 
whom  part  of  the  next  vacation  was  to  have  been  spent. 
Scarcely  ever  has  the  joyful  reception  of  a  parcel  been 
unmingled  with  some  tears  of  regret ;  so  mixed  and  im- 
perfect are  human  pleasures,  whether  in  childhood  or  in 
riper  years.  But  in  childhood,  "  the  tear  "  is  proverbially 
"  forgot  as  soon  as  shed,"  and  the  infant  mind  eagerly 
reverts  to  its  pleasures.  And  it  icas  a  pleasure,  which 
only  a  school  girl  can  understand,  to  examine  the  varied 
contents  of  the  parcel.  Such  fruits,  so  large,  so  ruddy, 
so  sweet,  and  so  mellow,  as  never  grew,  except  "  in  our 
garden  at  home."  Cakes,  such  as  no  mortal  hands  ever 
produced,  except  those  of  "  our  cook."  Silks  so  rich 
and  splendid,  as  never  issued,  except  from  "  my  father's 
looms  ;"  or  pieces  for  patch-work,  so  various  and  beau- 
tiful as  were  sold  only  at  "  our  shop."  Then  the  dis- 
tribution was  no  small  pleasure.  To  select  the  choicest 
fruit,  and  present  to  our  beloved  governess.  To  gather 
around  us  a  select  party,  with  whom  to  enjoy  our  banquet, 
and  to  impart  a  portion  to  every  school-fellow,  especially 
those  who  were  friendless,  and  not  likely  to  receive  a 
similar  gratification.  I  have  heard  it  said  that  a  school 
parcel  tends  to  make  children  selfish.  I  do  not  think 
80.  Like  every  other  circumstance,  it  more  or  less 
tends  to  bring  out  and  display  the  character  that  alrea- 
dy exists  ;  but  I  am  persuaded,  that  for  one  instance 
of  miserly,  selfish  feeling,  excited  b  the  receipt  of  a 
parcel,  a  dozen  feelings  of  gratitude,  benevolence,  and 
diffusive  kindness  were  excited  and  gratified.  I  has 
been  said  that  those  in  a  school,  who  :  eceive  the  richest 
and  most  frequent  parcels,  are  most  courted  and  respect- 
ed, while  those  who  are  friendless,  or  whose  friends  can- 
not afford  thus  to  gratify  them,  are  neglected  and  despised. 
10* 


114  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

It  may  be  so ;  but  I  think  much  depends  on  the  direc- 
tion insensibly  given  to  the  feelings  by  those  who  pre- 
side over  young  persons.  Our  beloved  governess  never 
seemed  to  interfere  at  all  with  the  disposal  of  our  little 
treasures,  and  yet  such  was  the  gentle  force  of  her  influ- 
ence and  example,  that  acquisition,  so  far  from  engen- 
dering selfishness  and  envy,  was  generally  subservient 
to  the  pure,  benevolent  pleasure  of  doing  good,  hoping 
for  nothing  again.  If  one  received  a  better  portion  in 
the  distribution  of  a  treat,  or  was  preferred  by  common 
consent  to  an  indulgence  of  which  all  could  not  partake, 
it  was  sure  to  be  the  orphan,  the  foreigner,  or  one  who 
remained  at  school  during  the  vacation.  It  is  through 
after  years  a  matter  of  gratitude  to  have  been  in  early 
life  placed  under  the  care  of  those  who  endeavoured  to 
give  the  feelings  a  correct  and  benevolent  bias,  or  rather 
to  oppose  the  native  bias  and  selfishness  which,  if  suf- 
fered to  prevail,  is  the  fruitful  source  of  mischief  and 
misery  in  individuals,  in  families,  and  in  societies. 

"  A  day  out !  "  0,  the  ineffable  pleasure  of  that  indul- 
gence.    Happy  was  the  girl  who  could  claim  acquaint- 
ance with  one  or  two  families  in  the  neighbourhood, 
judicious  as  well  as  hospitable  and  kind.     I  lay  more 
stress  on  the  former  particular,  than  my  young  friends, 
perhaps,  may  consider  quite  necessary  ;  but  it  is  from 
remembering  some  instances  of  injudicious  kindness, 
which  were  very  injurious  to  the  pupils,  and  vexatious  to 
the  governess.     I  need  scarcely  allude  to  the  degrading 
and  vulgar  indulgence  of  providing  all  sorts  of  delicacies, 
and  tempting  or  encouraging  young  people  to  partake  of 
them  till  they  made  themselves  ill ;  though  such  results 
have  in  many  instances  attended  "  a  day  out,"  and  justly 
induced  a  resolution  that  the  indulgence  should  not  be 


A   DAY    OUT.  115 

repeated.  It  was  understood  by  our  friends  in  general, 
that  Wednesday  was  the  most  convenient  day  for  going 
out,  as  it  was  a  half-holiday,  and  on  that  day  no  masters 
attended.  We  were,  of  course,  expected  to  return  to 
school  in  time  to  prepare  for  the  business  of  the  next 
morning.  But  the  friends  of  several  of  the  girls  invari- 
ably sent  for  them  on  some  other  day  rather  than  Wed- 
nesday, with  some  special  plea  or  excuse  for  the  prefer- 
ence. The  time  of  returning  in  the  evening  was  also 
frequently  transgressed,  and  the  business  of  the  ensuing 
day  in  consequence  neglected.  Perhaps  even  when  the 
indulgence  had  been  granted  for  a  few  hours,  the  tres- 
pass extended  for  a  day  or  two,  or  the  application  was 
so  often  repeated,  as  to  prove  a  serious  interruption, 
rather  than  a  salutary  recreation.  By  these  injudicious 
friends,  some  injurious  remark  was  often  insinuated,  that 
it  was  a  pity  Mrs.  P.  was  so  over  particular.  "  An 
hour  or  two,  or  one  lesson  now  and  then,  could  not  be  of 
so  much  consequence."  I  need  not  point  out  to  my 
young  friends  the  bad  effects  of  such  an  observation,  in 
unsettling  the  mind  from  regular  duties  and  pursuits  ; 
and  in  infusing  a  spirit  of  discontent,  insubordination, 
and  indifference  to  the  value  of  instruction.  Moreover, 
some  of  the  girls,  when  they  had  been  out  for  a  day,  in- 
variably returned  with  such  a  profuse  supply  of  pocket- 
money,  as  was  sure,  in  one  way  or  other,  to  lead  them 
into  mischief.  Hence  it  was  a  common  saying  among 
them,  that  a  day  of  sorrow  regularly  succeeded  a  day  of 
joy,  and  they  submitted  to  the  inconvenience  with  a  kind 
of  stoical  indifference,  as  though  it  were  a  matter  of  ab- 
solute and  necessary  connexion  ;  forgetting  that  the 
sorrow  was  the  natural  result  of  the  abuse  of  pleasure, 
and  that  they  suffered  from  the  consequences  of  their 


116  THE    GIRL'S   BOOK. 

own  criminal  folly,  not  from  some  inevitable  misfortune. 
It  was  well  for  those  of  us  whose  friends  were  at  once 
kind  and  judicious,  who  felt  pleasure  in  promoting  our 
innocent  gratification,  but  who  taught  us  to  respect  the 
bounds  of  moderation  and  propriety,  and  inculcated  on 
us  the  strictest  deference  to  the  wishes  of  our  governess, 
and  the  rules  of  her  establishment,  as  well  as  the  impor- 
tance of  so  arranging  our  pleasures,  as  that  they  should 
not  deprive  us  of  any  opportunity  of  improvement.  Per- 
sons who  accustom  themselves  to  speak  at  random,  have 
little  idea  of  the  different  impressions  and  results  pro- 
duced on  the  mind  of  a  child,  by  the  simple  difference 
of  a  friend  speaking  of"  losing"  a  lesson,  or  "  escaping," 
or  "  getting  off"  or  "  being  excused "  a  lesson. 

There  were  three  families  in  the  village,  by  whom  I 
was  kindly  noticed  on  account  of  their  respect  for  my 
dear  parents.  A  visit  about  once  a  month  delightfully 
diversified  the  half  year's  scene  ;  and  such  was  the  ten- 
dency of  their  conversation  and  conduct,  that  I  do  not 
think  I  ever  returned  from  one  of  those  visits,  without  a 
livelier  sense  of  the  veneration  and  gratitude  due  to 
my  governess,  and  of  the  privileges  I  enjoyed,  and  the 
importance  of  diligently  improving  them.  Each  of 
these  scenes  possessed  its  characteristic  source  of  grat- 
ification. 

At  the  manor-house  I  have  spent  many  hours  in  a  de- 
lightful conservatory,  marking  the  progress  of  particular 
plants  since  my  last  visit,  receiving  of  the  gardener  in- 
formation as  to  the  peculiar  properties  of  the  more  curi- 
rious,  and  the  mode  of  culture  of  the  more  common 
plants,  and  looking  over  a  collection  of  splendid  horti- 
cultural books,  prints,  and  drawings.  I  generally  took 
home  a  cargo  of  cuttings,  slips,  and  seeds,  with  which  to 


T  HE    MANOR-HOUSE.  117 

adorn  my  own  little  garden,  and  to  gratify  ray  young 
friends.  I  must  not  omit  to  mention  one  of  my  grand- 
est treats,  which  served  for  admiring  description  and 
wondering  appeal  during  the  whole  time  of  my  continu- 
ance at  school.  I  was  sent  for  to  witness  the  expanding 
of  that  splendid  flower,  the  Cactus  Grandiflora,  or  night- 
flowering  cactus.  As  the  flower  was  at  that  time  very 
rare,  nearly  all  the  neighbouring  gentry  were  assembled 
on  the  occasion.  A  splendid  collation  of  choice  fruits 
and  other  delicacies  were  laid  out  in  the  conservatory, 
where  the  company  refreshed  themselves,  and  from  time 
to  time  visited  the  hothouse  to  watch  the  progress  of  the 
flower;  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock  it  began  to  expand, 
and  before  twelve  was  in  full  perfection  ;  and  at  twelve 
o'clock  and  after,  I  and  several  other  young  ladies  about 
my  own  age,  could  not  admit  that  we  felt  the  most  dis- 
tant approach  of  weariness.  However,  it  was  consider- 
ed right  that  we  should  retire  to  rest ;  and  a  promise 
was  made,  that  whichever  of  us  first  visited  the  hothouse 
in  the  morning,  should  have  the  flower  to  take  home.  It 
fell  to  my  lot  to  claim  the  fulfilment  of  the  promise.  I 
was  in  the  hothouse  soon  after  six ;  but  already  the  pe- 
tals were  closing,  and  by  the  time  I  reached  school,  it 
needed  much  of  the  aid  of  description  to  convince  my 
young  friends  how  very  beautiful  it  had  been,  and  how 
well  worth  sitting  up  all  night  to  see.  I  put  it  in  water, 
fondly  hoping  that  it  might  once  more  expand  ;  but  no  ; 
its  glory  was  forever  fled,  and  had  left  a  touching  me- 
morial of  the  short-lived  nature  of  all  human  pleasure. 
Man  and  all  his  pleasures  bloom  but  to  fade.  I  have 
several  times  since  seen  a  night-flowering  cactus,  but 
never  one  that  appeared  half  so  large  and  splendid  as 
that  in  the  days  of  my  childhood.     Indeed,  I  have  learn- 


118  THE     GIRL'S    BOOK. 

ed  to  admire  the  common  white  water  lily,  nearly,  or 
quite  as  much ;  and  I  have  learned  also  to  be  very  hap- 
py without  either  a  fishpond  or  a  conservatory,  which  in 
those  days  seemed  almost  indispensable  ;  and  after  which 
I  have  made  many  unsuccessful  attempts  on  a  small 
scale.  Many  an  hour  have  I  laboured  hard  in  my  fa- 
ther's garden,  to  dig  a  pond,  and  fill  it  from  the  pump  ; 
but  in  spite  of  all  my  efforts,  the  water  would  sink  to  its 
own  level.  At  last  I  resolved  to  content  myself  with  a 
pond  no  larger  than  a  pan.  A  cumbrous  earthen  pan 
was  procured,  lodged  in  the  earth,  filled,  and  planted 
round  with  periwinkles,  and  a  young  weeping  willow; 
but  alas !  it  was  not  a  living  stream :  in  a  few  days  the 
water  became  thick  and  foetid,  and  my  parents  ordered 
it  to  be  thrown  away.  Thus  ended  my  fishpond  pro- 
jects ;  and  thus  have  many  of  my  schemes  passed  away. 
Happy  if  they  have  in  any  degree  taught  me  the  salutary 
lesson,  to  be  content  with  such  things  as  I  have. 

But  there  was  another  yet  more  interesting  delight 
connected  with  my  visits  to  the  manor-house.  I  saw 
the  rooms  which  the  excellent  Dr.  Watts  had  frequent- 
ed ;  and  I  sat  under  the  shade  of  the  same  venerable  tree 
under  which  he  had  exercised  his  pious  meditations  ;  and 
I  conversed  with  an  aged  housekeeper,  who  remembered 
him,  and  a  smile  would  light  her  sunken  eye,  or  a  tear 
would  gem  her  withered  cheeks,  and  her  toothless  mouth 
would  assume  its  articulative  powers,  when  his  name 
was  mentioned.  Yes.  I  have  conversed  with  one  who 
had  conversed  with  Dr.  Watts ;  and  I  have  listened  to 
her  tale,  and  sought  the  favourite  walk  she  pointed  out, 
and  examined  the  tree,  and  reposed  beneath  its  shade, 
with  almost  as  great  freshness  of  delight  the  twentieth 
time  as  the  first.     0,  there  is  in  piety  and  excellence 


THE    PARSONAGE.  119 

the  power  to  confer  a  kind  of  vitality  and  immortality  on 
every  object  with  which  they  are  associated  !  "  The 
righteous  shall  be  in  everlasting  remembrance." 

My  pleasures  at  the  house  of  the  worthy  minister,  on 
whom  my  governess,  and  a  considerable  number  of  the 
pupils  attended,  were  of  a  different  kind.  I  generally 
went  to  breakfast,  and  afterwards  was  permitted  to  ac- 
company Mrs.  or  Miss  W.  while  they  superintended  do- 
mestic arrangements  in  the  kitchen.  How  true  is  the 
saying,  "  Change  of  work  is  as  good  as  play !"  I  am 
sure  the  most  diverting  game  that  was  ever  invented 
could  not  have  pleased  me  better  than  to  be  employed 
in  chopping  suet,  peeling  apples,  beating  up  eggs,  and 
watching  the  process  of  pie  or  pudding  making ;  or  at 
washing-times,  to  take  in  the  linen,  and  sprinkle  or  fold  ; 
especially  to  be  trusted  with  an  iron,  too  cool  either  to 
scorch  the  linen  or  burn  my  hands.  Do  not,  my  dear 
young  friends,  despise  the  cultivation  of  domestic  habits. 
I  assure  you  I  feel  glad  and  thankful  that,  both  at  home 
and  in  visiting,  the  cultivation  of  such  habits  was  asso- 
ciated with  the  idea  of  pleasure.  It  is  as  unnecessary 
as  it  is  undesirable  that  young  ladies  should  acquire  vul- 
gar drudging  habits,  especially  habits  of  improper  kitchen 
familiarity ;  yet  there  is  an  advantage  which  every  young 
lady  ought  to  possess,  and  of  which  future  years  will 
evince  the  value,  in  accompanying  a  mother  or  some 
judicious  friend  who  conducts  and  superintends  the  sim- 
ple detail  of  domestic  life,  in  order  to  acquire  a  know- 
ledge of  its  concerns.  Do  not  suppose  that  the  wife 
and  daughter  of  the  good  minister  spent  much  of  their 
time  in  the  kitchen  :  no  ;  by  dint  of  early  rising,  indus- 
try, and  good  management,  all  their  little  daily  arrange- 


12°  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

ments  were  completed  by  the  time  an  indolent  fine  lady 
would  have  found  her  way  to  the  breakfast  table. 

The  next  treat  was  to  accompany  Miss  W.  in  her 
visit  to  the  charity-school.  How  pleased  was  I,  if  not 
proud,  when  permitted  to  hear  some  of  the  girls  their 
lessons,  to  fix  their  work,  or  to  look  over  their  sums  !  It 
by  no  means  spoiled  the  pleasure  of  my  holiday,  to  re- 
collect that  this  was  of  the  very  same  kind  as  my  daily 
employments.  During  the  heat  of  the  day  in  summer, 
and  in  the  evenings  of  winter,  while  the  ladies  sat  at 
needle-work,  I  generally  employed  myself  with  Fox's 
Book  of  Martyrs,  Harrison's  Survey  of  London,  or  the 
British  Traveller.  Often  has  my  infant  spirit  been  melt- 
ed and  fired  at  the  simple  touching  details  of  the  "  Acts 
and  Monuments,"  to  which  I  reverted  with  never-tiring 
interest ;  and  again  and  again  have  I  smiled  at  the  often 
read  traditionary  tale,  and  the  records  of  ancient  customs 
with  which  the  two  latter  works  abound.  I  believe  there 
is  scarcely  a  list  of  the  prices  of  provisions  in  the  days 
of  yore,  but  has  furnished  me  with  amusement  in  making 
out  a  bill  of  fare,  and  casting  up  the  expenses  of  a  Lord 
Mayor's  feast  in  those  days.  Then  inquiring  the  price, 
of  the  same  articles  in  the  present  day,  and  contrasting 
the  amount,  I  have  often  thought  how  immensely  rich 
people  must  have  been  in  those  days  ;  how  much  they 
must  have  had  to  give  to  the  poor,  and  how  far  a  small 
sum  would  go  in  relieving  the  wants  of  the  poor ;  nor 
was  I  easily  made  to  understand  that  the  value  of  money 
is  but  relative,  and  that  the  value  of  land,  labour,  and 
other  sources  of  income,  was  as  low  in  proportion  as  the 
price  of  commodities.  My  young  friends  are  most  like- 
ly aware  that  when  Windsor  Castle  was  built,  or  rather 


GARMENTS    FOR    THE    POOR.  121 

rebuilt,  in  the  reign  of  King  Edward  III.,  the  wages  of 
the  workmen  were  but  one  penny,  or  three  half-pence  a 
day.  In  the  same  reign  WicklifFe  translated  the  Bible 
into  English.  His  translation  of  the  New  Testament 
alone  sold  for  two  pounds  sixteen  shillings  and  eight 
pence,  or  six  hundred  and  eighty  pence.*  Thus,  it 
would  have  cost  more  than  the  entire  labour  of  two  years 
to  procure  it;  and  yet  there  were  such  instances  of  at- 
tachment to  the  word  of  life,  as  induced  some  persons 
in  very  humble  life,  to  persevere  in  extreme  labour  and 
self-denial,  till  they  obtained  possession  of  a  part  of  the 
sacred  treasure.  How  highly  favoured  are  we,  who  can 
obtain  the  precious  volume  from  the  little  savings  of  a 
few  weeks,  and  what  a  reproof  to  the  carelessness  and 
indifference  of  too  many  in  the  present  day,  who,  when 
the  Bible  may  be  so  easily  obtained,  scarcely  ever  take 
the  trouble  to  look  at  it!  But  I  was  speaking  of  my 
visits  to  the  parsonage  house.  Not  unfrequently,  the 
kind-hearted  inmates  were  employed  in  contriving  and 
making  up  garments  for  the  poor,  from  the  remnants  of 
their  own  wardrobe,  or  from  materials  furnished  them  by 
wealthier  members  of  the  congregation.  Though  my 
little  services  were  never  required,  they  were  always 
kindly  accepted  in  the  needle-work  department,  and  I 
felt  great  pleasure  in  rendering  them.  In  summer  time, 
after  taking  tea  early,  the  whole  family  generally  took  a 
walk,  in  which  I  was  permitted  to  accompany  them.  In 
our  way,  we  called  on  some  of  the  families  of  the  con- 
gregation ;  sometimes  taking  one  or  more  little  bundles 
of  clothing  for  the  poor ;  or  flowers  and  fruit  to  those 
who  had  not  a  garden.  The  kind  thoughtfulness  of  my 
friends,  who  delighted  in  acts  of  benevolence,  and  the 

*  About  fourteen  dollars  of  American  money.  —  Ed. 
11 


122 

affectionate  cordiality  and  respect  with  which  they  were 
welcomed,  both  by  rich  and  poor,  had  a  very  happy  in- 
fluence on  my  mind,  in  inducing  me  to  think  well  of 
religion,  and  to  listen  with  reverence  to  the  instructions 
of  the  Sabbath.  I  shall  never  forget  calling  on  a  very 
aged  gentleman,  who  for  years  before  his  death  suffered 
excruciating  pain.  The  perspiration  rolled  off  his  fore- 
head, and  he  was  almost  exhausted.  He  faintly  said, 
"  I  have  passed  such  a  night  and  day  of  agony,  as  no- 
thing but  the  grace  of  God  could  have  sustained  me 
under."  Then,  as  if  correcting  and  rousing  himself,  he 
firmly  added, 

"  Now  let  my  pains  be  all  forgot, 
My  heart  no  more  repine  ; 
My  sufferings  are  not  worth  a  thought, 
When,  Lord,  compared  with  thine." 

A  few  weeks  afterwards  he  died.  His  funeral  sermon 
was  from  the  words,  "  Our  light  affliction,  which  is  but 
for  a  moment,  worketh  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and 
eternal  weight  of  glory."  2  Cor.  iv.  17.  I  wish  I  could 
convey  to  my  young  friends  the  very  emphasis  which  ex- 
pressed the  striking  contrast  of  ideas  throughout  the 
passage.  Perhaps  they,  like  myself,  have  been  privi- 
leged to  witness  the  happiness  of  some  suffering  saint 
who  realized  their  import.  May  it  be  their  lot  and  mine, 
whatever  may  be  our  afflictions,  to  enjoy  similar  conso- 
lations ! 

I  have  said  that  on  these  benevolent  excursions  we 
sometimes  carried  to  the  cottages  of  the  poor  a  bundle 
of  baby  linen,  or  other  clothing.  This  was  among  my 
highest  treats,  being  exceedingly  fond  of  little  children, 
and  the  mothers  generally  as  well  pleased  at  having  their 


A    YOUNG    NURSE.  123 

little  ones  admired.  I  cannot  describe  my  delight,  when 
a  good  woman  said  to  me,  "  Take  it,  if  you  please 
miss."  It  was  just  what  I  longed  for,  but  did  not  pre- 
sume to  ask.  "  Are  you  not  afraid  to  trust  it  with  so 
young  a  nurse  V?  asked  Mrs.  W.  "  0  dear,  no,  ma'am  ! 
my  little  girl,  that  is  not  near  so  big  as  miss,  nurses  it 
for  hours  together."  I  think  no  Lord  Chancellor  ever 
received  his  seals  of  office  with  stronger  feelings  of  ele- 
vation and  responsibility  than  played  in  my  little  bosom 
when  I  was  permitted  to  hold  in  my  arms  a  real,  live 
baby,  and  to  try  on  its  little  soft  head  the  cap  I  had  just 
made  for  it.  I  felt  myself  almost  as  great  a  personage 
as  Miriam,  who  was  set  to  watch  her  little  brother  Mo- 
ses, and  only  regretted  that  I  had  no  younger  brother  or 
sister  to  nurse.  Since  that  time  I  have  had  plenty  of 
nursing,  but  I  have  never  lost  my  relish  for  it.  On  re- 
turning from  these  walks,  a  piece  of  pie  generally  stood 
ready  for  my  supper,  and  after  family  prayers  I  was  sent 
home  with  great  care  and  punctuality  not  to  exceed  the 
appointed  time. 

I  mentioned  another  house  at  which  I  frequently  vi- 
sited. It  belonged  to  a  retired  old  gentleman,  who  had 
formerly  been  a  great  bookseller  in  London.  It  was  a 
large  house  occupied  only  by  himself  and  lady,  witft  four, 
servants,  nearly  as  old  as  themselves,  and  one  younger, 
to  wait  upon  the  rest,  and  to  attend  upon  several  cats, 
a  parrot,  a  superannuated  dog,  and  a  large  family  of  rab- 
bits, pigeons,  and  other  poultry.  I  generally  visited 
them  all  round,  and  came  away  enriched  with  the  fea- 
thers of  peacocks,  pheasants,  and  guinea-fowls,  for  fancy 
work.  Many  of  the  rooms  were  scarcely  ever  entered, 
except  to  be  cleaned  ;  but  in  the  confidence  that  I  should 
not  mischievously  touch  any  thing,  I  was  permitted  to 


124  THE     GIRL'S     BOOK. 

take  my  range,  and  found  abundant  amusement  in  the 
vast  variety  of  old  fashioned  articles  of  furniture,  orna- 
ments, and  other  curiosities ;  especially  in  a  noble  li- 
brary, where  I  was  often  permitted  to  inspect  valuable 
books  and  prints  ;  and  a  lumber  room,  where  were  many 
books,  chiefly  for  children,  which  remained  of  Mr.  H.'s 
stock  in  trade.  I  suppose  he  kept  them  on  purpose  to 
gratify  any  children  who  might  visit  him.  There  I  was 
permitted  to  range  at  pleasure,  and  often  was  presented 
with  a  book  in  which  I  was  particularly  interested.  One 
was  called  "  The  Six  Princesses  of  Babylon."  In  an 
ingenious  allegory,  the  writer  displays  the  value  and  im- 
portance of  certain  moral  qualities,  especially  to  the  fe- 
male character  ;  the  difficulty  of  attaining  them  is  repre- 
sented under  the  idea  of  climbing  steep  rocks,  conquer- 
ing formidable  enemies,  opening  difficult  locks,  and  other 
figures.  The  danger  of  mistaking  specious  resem- 
blances for  the  real  good  quality,  and  the  snares  and 
temptations  to  deviate  from  a  consistent  course,  are  all 
pleasingly  set  forth  in  the  manner  of  a  fairy  tale,  but 
without  its  absurdities,  as  well  as  the  high  satisfaction 
attendant  on  conquering  bad  habits,  and  cultivating  such 
as  are  good.  If  I  recollect  right,  the  articles  after  which 
these  six  young  ladies  went  in  search,  were,  the  Distaff 
of  Industry,  the  River  of  Goodnature,  the  Spear  of 
Truth,  the  Mantle  of  Meekness,  the  Magnet  of  true  Ge- 
nerosity, and  the  Wand  of  Contentment.  The  nearest 
resemblance  I  have  seen  to  this  interesting  little  book,  is 
"  Order  and  Disorder,"  in  Evenings  at  Home.  I  wish 
I  could  meet  with  a  copy  even  now  :  I  doubt  not,  I  should 
read  it  with  interest  and  improvement.  Perhaps  my 
young  friends  will  supply  the  deficiency  by  reflecting  on 
the  value  of  those  qualities,  and  on  the  best  means  to 


DEATH    OP   MR.    H.  125 

promote  them,  and  something  will  then  be  done  towards 
rendering  their  character  amiable  and  estimable. 

My  venerated  friend  Mr.  H.  possessed  an  elegant  and 
highly  cultivated  mind,  and  was  peculiarly  gentle  and 
condescending  in  his  manners.  When  his  health  per- 
mitted, he  kindly  encouraged  me  to  converse  with  him, 
or  to  read  aloud  to  him  ;  when  he  obviated  any  difficulty, 
and  pointed  out  to  me  the  beauties  and  defects  of  many 
of  our  best  classics  and  poets.  I  read  with  him  the 
whole  of  Cowper's  Poems,  and  understood  and  relished 
them  much  better  than  I  could  have  done  by  reading 
them  alone.  His  instructions  were  very  valuable  to  me, 
and  even  now  his  memory  is  associated  with  many  de- 
lightful passages.  Before  we  parted,  Mr.  H.  always 
desired  me  to  repeat  to  him  Dr.  Watt's  119th  Psalm, 
11th  part,  "  0  that  the  Lord  would  guide  my  ways."  The 
last  time  I  visited  him,  —  little  thinking  that  it  would  be 
the  last,  —  his  cough  was  more  than  usually  distressing, 
his  voice  hollow  and  feeble,  his  eyes  sunken,  and  his 
cheek  flushed  ;  but  he  was  seated  as  usual  in  his  great 
chair,  and  his  countenance  expressed  its  usual  placidity 
and  benevolence.  "  Come,  my  child,"  said  he,  "  what 
shall  we  read  to-day  ]  My  strength  is  sinking  fast,  I  feel 
I  shall  not  hear  you  read  many  times  more."  At  his 
desire,  I  read  the  closing  part  of  Cowper's  poem  on 
"  Truth." 

"  All  joy  to  the  believer!  He  can  speak, 
Trembling,  yet  happy,  confident,  yet  meek  — 
Since  the  dear  hour  that  brought  me  to  thy  foot, 
And  cut  up  all  my  follies  by  the  root, 
I  never  trusted  in  an  arm  but  thine, 
Nor  hoped,  but  in  thy  righteousness  divine. 
My  prayers  and  alms,  imperfect  and  defil'd, 
Were  but  the  feeble  efforts  of  a  child : 
11* 


126  THE    GIRL'S  BOOK. 

Howe'er  performed,  it  was  their  brightest  part, 
That  they  proceeded  from  a  grateful  heart : 
Cleans'd  in  thine  own  all  purifying  blood, 
Forgive  their  evil,  and  accept  their  good. 
I  cast  them  at  my  feet :  my  only  plea 
Is  what  it  was  —  dependence  upon  thee, 
While  struggling  in  the  vale  of  tears  below, 
That  never  fail'd,  nor  shall  it  fail  me  now. 
Angelic  gratulations  rend  the  skies, 
Pride  falls  unpitied,  never  more  to  rise, 
Humility  is  crown'd,  and  Faith  receives  the  prize." 

As  I  read  these  beautiful  lines,  my  venerable  friend 
several  times  interposed  "  Ah!"  in  such  a  way  as  indi- 
cated that  the  feelings  of  his  own  mind  were  in  harmony 
with  the  sentiments  of  the  poet.  Before  I  left  him  in 
the  evening,  he  bade  me  read  the  103d  Psalm  ;  and  af- 
ter repeating  the  119th,  (which  was  never  omitted,)  I 
took  leave  of  my  friend  to  see  him  no  more.  A  day  or 
two  afterwards,  my  governess  sent  for  me  into  the  par- 
lour, and  with  deep  solemnity  of  manner,  said  to  me, 
"  My  dear  child,  I  am  glad  you  spent  Wednesday  last 
with  your  good  friend  Mr.  H.  —  He  is  now  no  more  on 
earth.  Re  has  passed  gently  into  eternity.  There  is 
no  doubt  but  he  sleeps  in  Jesus.  You  and  I  must  die, 
we  do  not  know  how  soon.  '  May  we  die  the  death  of 
the  righteous,  and  may  our  last  end  be  like  his !' "  A  few 
days  afterwards,  my  dear  father  came  down  to  attend  the 
funeral  of  his  friend.  The  occasion  of  his  visit  chasten- 
ed the  pleasure  I  felt  in  seeing  him  ;  but  the  thought  of 
our  friend's  happiness  gave  us  to  experience  something 
like  "the  joy  of  grief."  On  the  following  Lord's  day  I 
saw  the  pulpit  and  the  gallery  hung  with  black,  and  Mrs. 
H.  and  all  the  servants  in  deep  mourning  ;  and  all  shed 


MRS.    H.  127 

many  tears  while  the  minister  preached  from  the  words, 
"  To  me  to  live  is  Christ,  and  to  die  is  gain."  Phil.  i.  21. 
He  closed  with  the  wish,  "  May  we  all  live  the  life  of 
the  righteous,  and  then  our  last  end  will  be  like  his !" 

The  solemnity  of  the  scene  made  some  impression  on 
my  mind ;  and  I  formed  some  resolutions  and  desires. 
But  alas !  I  did  not  feel  my  own  sinfulness  and  weak- 
ness ;  and  therefore,  I  failed  earnestly  to  implore  forgiv- 
ing mercy  and  cleansing  grace.  Without  these,  my  dear 
young  friends,  our  good  resolutions  will  fall  to  the  ground, 
and  our  religious  impressions  be  but  like  writing  on  the 
sand,  which  the  first  wave  washes  away. 

On  the  Monday,  my  father  called  on  Mrs.  H.  and 
took  me  with  him.  She  received  us  kindly,  and  promised 
still  to  be  kind  to  me,  and  so  she  was.  I  continued  to 
visit  her  as  frequently  as  before,  and  received  many  fa- 
vours at  her  hands.  Under  somewhat  of  roughness  and 
sternness  of  manners,  she  exercised  much  real  kindness 
of  heart ;  but  the  house  was  never  to  me  what  it  had  been 
in  the  time  of  my  lamented  friend.  Mrs.  H.  was  not  at 
all  of  a  turn  for  reading.  I  never  dared  mention  a  book 
to  her ;  but  when  I  asked  permission  to  go  into  the  li- 
brary, she  generally  answered,  "  Yes,  go  child,  if  you 
will;  but  don't  mope  yourself  to  death  with  books."  She 
was  a  lofty  lady,  and  required  the  servants  to  be  very  ex- 
act in  their  homage  to  her.  Even  the  parrot,  if  it  failed 
when  she  entered  the  breakfast  parlour,  to  say,  "  Good 
morning  madam,  I  hope  you'r  well,"  was  banished  in 
disgrace  for  the  whole  day.  She  was  very  curious  in  the 
arts  of  confectionary,  pickling,  preserving,  and  distilling. 
These  were  performed  by  the  servants  under  her  imme- 
diate direction.  A  heavy  antique  arm-chair,  with  cas- 
tors, stood  in  the  hall,  which  was  wheeled  to  the  kitchefc, 


128  THE    GIRL'S     BOOK. 

the  still-room,  or  wherever  else  these  matters  were  going 
on,  and  there  she  sat  and  inspected  them  ;  and  oh,  how 
she  stormed  if  the  least  thing  was  amiss !  I  have  seen 
the  servants  tremble,  and  trembled  myself.  She  would 
then  turn  round  and  say,  "  Don't  be  frightened,  child  : 
I  did  not  scold  you;"  then  she  would  seem  to  be  in  a 
good  humour  with  every  body,  till  some  little  fresh  dis- 
aster arose,  and  produced  another  of 


those  cataracts  and  breaks 


Which  humour,  interposed,  too  often  makes." 

These  operations  completed,  she  walked,  or  if  the  wea- 
ther was  wet,  was  drawn  in  a  covered  chair,  round  the 
grounds  till  dinner  time,  and  gave  directions  to  the  gardener 
who  attended  her.  In  the  afternoon  she  employed  herself 
in  making  rich  pillow  lace  ;  and,  in  the  evening,  in  knitting 
her  own  stockings,  and  those  of  her  husband  during  his 
life-time.  She  said  she  had  never  in  her  life  worn  a  stock- 
ing that  she  had  not  knit.  Her  mother,  though  a  very  rich 
and  grand  lady,  insisted  that  all  her  children,  both  boys 
and  girls,  should  learn  to  knit  before  they  were  allowed  to 
wear  stockings.  Their  first  attempts,  of  course,  were 
roughly  executed,  and  with  common  materials,  worsted, 
or  lamb's-wool ;  but  as  they  advanced  in  the  art,  they 
were  at  liberty  to  have  silk,  if  they  chose,  provided  that 
they  knit  them  themselves  ;  or  the  girls,  those  of  their 
brothers.  I  think  this  rule  was  carried  much  too  far ; 
however,  the  art  of  knitting  is  very  useful  either  to  girls 
or  boys.  It  is  a  good  thing  to  get  a  habit  of  moving  the 
fingers  nimbly,  and  of  filling  up  all  the  little  odds  and 
ends  of  time  with  something  useful.  Besides,  knitting 
is  a  pleasant  employment  for  aged  or  dim-sighted  per- 
sons.    I  know  some  who  have  accustomed  themselves 


MRS.    H.  129 

to  knit  with  their  eyes  shut,  that  they  might  be  able  to  do 
it  with  equal  ease  if  ever  they  should  become  blind. 

Mrs.  H.,  as  I  have  said,  was  somewhat  stern  and  re- 
pulsive in  her  manners ;  I  believe  she  always  meant 
kindly  and  correctly  in  opposing  a  real  or  supposed  evil ; 
but  she  had  not  the  gentle  arts  of  persuasion  and  argu- 
ment which  rendered  my  governess  so  amiable  and  suc- 
cessful. She  had  no  children  of  her  own ;  and  having 
been  brought  up  on  a  Spartan  sort  of  system,  she  could 
exercise  but  little  sympathy  or  toleration  for  the  predilec- 
tions of  children.  She  maintained  that  no  child  ought  to 
be  suffered  to  have  a  dislike  for  any  thing  of  an  eatable 
kind.  When  dining  there,  I  was  generally  allowed  to 
partake  of  what  dishes  I  chose  ;  but  Mrs.  H.  having  ob- 
served that  I  never  chose  boiled  mutton,  asked  me  if  I 
did  not  like  it  ?  I  said  I  did  not  like  it  much.  When  the 
desert  was  brought  on,  she  pressed  me  to  eat  a  fig ;  hav- 
ing tasted  it,  I  exceedingly  disliked  it,  and  left  it.  These 
two  articles  of  diet  were,  I  believe,  the  only  two  against 
which  I  ever  had,  or  fancied  I  had,  any  dislike  ;  and  the 
former  was  not  very  strong.  "  Now,  child,"  said  Mrs. 
H.,  "I  shall  cure  you  of  this  nonsense,  depend  upon  it. 
Whenever  you  dine  here,  you  shall  have  nothing  but 
boiled  mutton  for  dinner  ;  and  as  to  figs,  if  you  do  not  eat 
one  this  afternoon,  you  shall  have  no  basket  of  fruit  to 
take  home  for  your  school- fellows."  This  was  generally 
a  very  pleasing  adjunct  to  my  holiday  at  Mrs.  H.'s ;  a 
large  basket  of  fruit,  which  enabled  me  to  treat  the  whole 
school  one  day,  and  a  select  party  a  second.  I  therefore 
resolved  on  a  bold  effort  to  secure  my  accustomed  pri- 
vilege, and  constrained  myself  to  swallow  a  fig,  sorely 
against  my  will.  I  carried  my  basket  of  fruit  through  this 
effort,  but  the  fig  made  me  exceedingly  ill.     This,  how- 


130  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

ever,  Mrs.  H.  insisted,  was  because  I  set  myself  against 
it,  and  she  resolved  to  make  another  trial :  accordingly, 
I  was  sent  for  again  the  next  week.  I  made  an  excellent 
dinner  of  boiled  mutton,  and  was  convinced  that  my  dis- 
like was  nothing  more  than  fancy.  By  the  second  experi- 
ment in  fig-swallowing,  Mrs.  H.  also  was  convinced  that 
my  dislike  was  real,  and  that  the  effects  of  compulsion 
might  be  really  injurious.  Fortunately  for  me,  a  medi- 
cal gentleman  was  that  day  visiting  Mrs.  A.  who  kindly 
pleaded  my  cause,  and  gained  for  me  a  dispensation  from 
all  farther  requirements  in  that  way. 

On  one  of  my  visits  there,  having  obtained  permission 
to  visit  the  library,  I  observed  a  large  pane  of  glass  bro- 
ken in  one  of  the  windows.  When  the  servant  called 
me  to  tea,  she  also  observed  it,  and  informed  her  mis- 
tress. Mrs.  H.  asked  me  if  I  had  broken  it.  I  said  I 
had  not.  She  pressed  me  to  own  it,  saying  she  could 
forgive  an  accident,  however  careless,  but  she  could  not 
forgive  a  falsehood.  I  wondered  at  her  uttering  such  a 
suspicion  ;  for  it  was  one  of  my  good  governess's  excel- 
lent rules,  to  suppose  every  one  incapable  of  falsehood, 
until  evidence  to  the  contrary  painfully  forced  itself  on 
her  mind.  However,  I  assuredMrs.  H.  that  I  observed 
the  broken  window  almost  as  soon  as  I  entered  the  room; 
and  then  thought  little  more  about  the  matter  :  it  never  oc- 
curred to  me  that  she  continued  to  doubt  my  word.  When 
the  time  came  that  I  expected  to  be  sent  for  again,  my  ear 
was  alert  for  every  ring  at  the  bell,  and  my  eye  continually 
cast  towards  the  opening  door ;  but  no  message  from 
Mrs.  H,  arrived.  The  following  Wednesday  I  watched 
again  with  renewed  eagerness,  and  feared  that  Mrs.  H. 
must  be  unwell ;  but  on  the  Sunday,  I  saw  her  in  her  pew 
as  usual.     "  Perhaps  she  had  company,  and  it  was  in- 


THE    BROKEN    WINDOW.  131 

convenient ;  she  will,  no  doubt,  send  next  Wednesday." 
Thus  one  "  perhaps  "  after  another  beguiled  me  through 
three  long  months,  and  I  had  begun  to  realize  the  wise 
man's  assertion,  that  "  hope  deferred  maketh  the'  heart 
sick."  I  had  almost  ceased  to  listen  to  the  bell,  or  look 
towards  the  door,  least  of  all  should  I  think  of  listening 
or  looking  on  any  day  except  Wednesday ;  but  lo  !  one 
Monday  morning  came  the  long-suspended  invitation  for 
me  to  spend  the  day  with  Mrs.  H. ;  the  usual  request 
bearing  this  mysterious  appendage :  "  Mrs.  H.  would  be 

particularly  obliged  if  Mrs.  P.  would  spare  Miss 

to-day,  as  she  has  something  very  particular  to  say  to 
her."  Whether  Molly  did  not  know,  or  was  directed  not 
to  say  any  thing  farther,  no  information  was  elicited  on 
the  way.  Instead  of  the  merry  bound,  and  the  lively 
chatter,  that  generally  gave  vent  to  the  childish  joy  of 
the  moment,  the  way  was  passed  in  solemn  silence  and 
wondering  conjecture.  The  moment  I  was  introduced 
to  the  parlour,  Mrs.  H.  pushed  aside  her  lace  pillow,  and 
kissing  me  with  unusual  kindness,  hastily  said,  "  Child, 
I  have  wronged  you,  and  I  am  sorry  for  it.  I  have  not 
had  you  here  for  thirteen  weeks  and  five  days.  I  am 
sorry  I've  wronged  you ;  but  I  thought  you  had  told  me 
a  lie,  and  I  could  not  abide  a  liar.  You  did  not  break  the 
window  ;  you  said  you  did  not,  and  it  was  true  enough. 
I  am  sorry  I  wronged  you,  but  I  must  try  to  make  you 
amends."  As  to  the  "  making  amends,"  I  did  not  un- 
derstand that :  — a  Queen  Anne's  guinea,  and  sundry  old 
fashioned  and  costly  curiosities,  heaped  on  me  that  day 
of  reconciliation,  seemed  no  ways  connected  with  the 
surmise  that  had  injured  my  character.  The  arrange- 
ment, that  in  future  I  must  dine  there  once  a  fortnight, 
instead  of  once  a  month,  was  more  satisfactory,  because 


132  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

it  was  a  proof  to  my  school-fellows  that  I  had  not  forfeit- 
ed the  favour  of  my  friend  :  but  my  greatest  satisfaction 
was,  in  rinding  that  the  window,  having  been  repaired, 
was  again  found  broken  that  morning,  and  that  it  was 
proved  to  have  been  done  by  an  outside  blind,  the  fasten- 
ing of  which  having  given  way,  the  wind  had  blown  it 
against  the  glass.  "  And  I  wish,  with  all  my  heart,"  said 
Mrs.  H.,  "  that  the  wind  had  set  that  way  before,  then  I 
should  not  have  wronged  you  for  such  a  length  of  time." 
I  was  immediately  reinstated  in  full  possession  of  ac- 
customed and  extended  confidence  and  privileges. 

Once  in  each  half  year  we  had  a  general  holiday.  In 
the  beginning  of  June,  the  whole  school  was  invited,  by 
the  parents  of  two  of  our  companions,  to  spend  a  day  at 
their  farm-house,  about  three  miles  off.  There  we  were 
gratified  with  a  sight  of  sheep-shearing,  hay-making,  or 
other  rural  scenes  :  we  feasted  on  strawberries  and  cream, 
new  milk  from  the  cow,  and  hot  cakes,  baked  on  the 
hearth.  We  decked  each  other  with  fanciful  wreaths  of 
real  flowers,  and  chased  each  other  round  the  great  oak 
tree  on  the  green.  At  night,  we  were  sent  home  in  a 
large  covered  cart,  delighted  with  the  kind  hospitality  we 
had  enjoyed,  and  agreeing,  nem.  con.  that  notwithstand- 
ing the  crowding  and  jolting  of  our  journey  home,  it  was 
far  pleasanter  than  being  full  dressed,  and  going  in  a  cha- 
riot to  a  set  ball.  Those  who  knew  any  thing  of  the  gay 
scenes  of  pleasure  in  high  life,  assured  us  that  it  was  so  ; 
and  most  of  us  who  knew  nothing  higher  than  a  rural 
holiday,  took  it  upon  trust. 

Our  other  general  holiday  was  in  August  or  Septem- 
ber, when  we  visited  the  parents  of  one  of  our  young 
ladies  at  Wansted  House,  in  Essex.  On  this  grand 
occasion  two  coaches  were  engaged  for  the  day ;  and 


SUPERSTITION.  133 

by  pretty  close  packing,  the  whole  school  was  crammed 
into  them.  The  morning  was  spent  in  viewing  the 
house  and  grounds  ;  then  we  dined  on  the  lawn,  and  in 
the  afternoon,  rambled  in  the  woods,  and  gathered  nuts. 
Meanwhile  a  kettle  was  boiled  under  a  hedge,  where  we 
were  all  required  to  rendezvous  at  six  o'clock,  and  take 
a  hasty  tea ;  by  which  time  the  carriages  met  to  convey 
us  home.  I  was  at  school  three  times  on  this  grand 
occasion  :  the  first  time  I  was  very  highly  delighted  with 
the  holiday ;  the  second  time  it  did  not  quite  reach  my 
anticipations ;  the  third  I  was  well  pleased  to  stay  with 
dear  Mrs.  Pierson,  who  did  not  feel  equal  to  the  exer- 
tion of  going.  Once,  when  the  day  was  fixed,  and  the 
carriages  were  engaged,  the  morning  was  very  rainy, 
and  the  holiday  was  necessarily  postponed.  I  remem- 
ber being  awoke  that  morning  very  early  with  a  strange 
monotonous  singing.  One  of  the  girls,  her  heart  intent 
on  promised  pleasure,  had  awoke  still  earlier  ;  and  hear- 
ing the  pattering  of  rain  against  the  window,  called  her 
companions,  I  think  there  were  seven  or  eight,  who 
slept  in  the  same  room,  and  begged  them  to  join  her  in 
singing 

"Rain,  rain,  go  away, 
Come  again  another  day," 

assuring  them  that  if  they  persevered  in  singing  it,  I 
can't  tell  how  many  hundred  times,  without  stopping,  the 
rain  would  be  sure  to  cease.  Accordingly  they  set  to 
work ;  but  before  the  number  was  completed,  or  their 
lungs  quite  exhausted,  the  noise  disturbed  our  governess, 
who  rang  her  bell,  put  a  hasty  stop  to  the  superstitious 
music,  and  directed  the  servant  to  countermand  the 
coaches. 
12 


134 


THE    GIRL'S    BOOK, 


At  breakfast-time  our  governess  spoke  kindly  to  us, 
sympathizing  in  our  disappointment,  but  pointing  out  the 
duty  and  wisdom  of  cheerfully  accommodating  ourselves 
to  unavoidable  circumstances,  and  especially  the  folly 
and  sinfulness  of  imagining  that  they  can  be  altered  by 
any  superstitious  charm  or  spell.  I  am  sorry  to  say  that 
some  of  the  girls,  who  I  suppose  at  home  had  been  un- 
der the  influence  of  ignorant  and  superstitious  nurses, 
brought  many  of  these  silly  notions  and  customs  into  the 
school,  and  that  too  many  were  credulous  enough  to  re- 
ceive them.  There  was  scarcely  one  girl  but  was  more 
or  less  tainted  with  the  nonsense,  which  grew  to  such  a 
height  that  scarcely  an  animal  could  move  or  rest,  or  an 
inanimate  thing  be  placed  this  way  or  that,  but  it  was 
interpreted  into  some  sign  of  good  or  ill  luck,  success  or 
defeat  in  the  class,  peace  or  strife  among  companions, 
good  or  bad  news  from  home.  Thus  the  mind  was  per- 
plexed with  imaginary  terrors,  or  elated  with  false  confi- 
dence, and  taken  off  from  the  proper  and  rational  means 
of  seeking  success  and  comfort  by  diligence  and  atten- 
tion to  duty,  and  by  humble  prayer  to  God,  who  disposes 
all  events,  both  great  and  small.  I  am  ashamed  so  fre- 
quently to  speak  of  myself,  but  those  things  make  the 
deepest  impression  which  concern  ourselves  ;  and,  if  by 
communicating  my  follies,  my  young  friends  should  be 
taught  to  avoid  similar  errors,  false  shame  ought  not  to 
make  me  suppress  them. 

A  great  girl,  who  was  the  general  oracle  and  interpre- 
ter of  dreams,  signs,  and  omens,  and  who  displayed  no 
small  share  of  cunning,  in  profitting  by  the  credulity  of 
her  clients,  once  said  to  me,  "  How  often  you  are  in 
trouble  about  stooping  your  head !  I  would  not  be  so, 
long,  if  I  were  you.     I  know  of  something  that  would 


SUPERSTITION. 


135 


soon  cure  you."  I  eagerly  pressed  for  her  secret,  and 
offered  any  reward  in  my  power  if  it  should  prove  suc- 
cessful. She  toid  me  it  was  a  small  coin  with  a  hole 
through  it,  which  must  be  constantly  worn  round  the 
neck.  I  ventured  to  doubt  the  efficacy  of  the  charm ; 
she  resented  my  incredulity,  and  declared  she  would  not 
even  let  me  see  it  if  I  would  give  her  all  I  had  in  the 
world.  Not  many  days  elapsed,  before  I  was  again 
blamed  for  my  old  fault.  She  then  affected  to  relent, 
and  offered  me  the  invaluable  coin  for  the  small  sum  of 
one  shilling,  and  a  curious  little  box,  in  the  form  of  a 
horse-chesnut,  which  had  been  given  me  by  my  friend, 
Mrs.  H.  I  grieved  to  part  with  my  box,  but  she  would 
accept  nothing  less  ;  and  said  that  I  could  not  sincerely 
wish  to  break  myself  of  a  bad  habit,  if  I  was  unwilling 
to  part  with  such  a  trifle  for  it.  At  length  I  complied, 
and  solemnly  promised  not  to  tell  Mrs.  P.  of  the  trans- 
action. Silly  child !  might  I  not  have  been  sure  that  the 
transaction  must  be  wrong,  if  it  required  concealment 
from  so  kind  a  friend  I  However,  the  price  was  paid, 
and  the  mysterious  coin  brought  forth.  It  was  about  the 
size  of  a  farthing,  and  had  on  it  the  words  "  Stad  Utrecht," 
which  my  wily  conjurer  informed  me  was  the  Latin  for 
"  Stand  upright."*  She  muttered  some  words,  and  sus- 
pended it  on  my  neck  by  a  bit  of  blue  riband,  which 
she  said  was  the  most  successful  colour,  and  which,  by 
the  way,  she  procured  for  me  at  about  three  times  the 
regular  price. 

I  confess  I  had  some  misgivings  of  conscience  as  to 
the  means  I  had  adopted,  and  felt  a  sort  of  undefined 
terror  lest  some  calamity  should  befal  me  for  venturing 

*  The  English  farthing  is  a  small  copper  coin,  about  the  size  of 
our  half-cent.  —  Ed. 


136  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

to  use  a  charm.     I  did  not  like  to  be  alone,  especially 
in  the  dark ;  so  nearly  connected  are  false  confidences 
and  false  terrors,  and  so  surely  is  fear  the  attendant  upon 
guilt.     In  a  few  days  these  feelings,  in  a  measure,  wore 
off,  and  all  my  care  and  pains  to  hold  my  head  upright 
wore  off  too.     Of  course  I  left  that  entirely  to  the  ope- 
ration of  the  charm.     One  day,  as  I  sat  at  my  embroid- 
ery, Mrs.  P.  said  to  me,  "  My  dear  child,  hold  up  your 
head  ;  you  certainly  stoop  more  than  ever.     I  must  put 
the  frame  quite  away  if  you  cannot  learn  to  sit  upright. 
Come  hither,  child ;  I  think  your  dress  must  hurt  you." 
Not  a  moment  was  afforded  me  for  hiding  my  precious 
locket.     Mrs.  P.  soon  discovered  it,  and  a  green  mark 
which  it  had  left  on  my  neck,  and  which  had  become 
quite  sore.     Mrs.   P.  insisted  on  knowing  what  this 
meant.     I  shrunk  from  telling  her,  partly  for  my  word's 
sake,  and  partly  from  fear  of  the  girl  who  had  gained 
such  an  ascendency  over  me.     Mrs.  P.  then  turning  to 
the  young  ladies  in  general,  asked  if  any  of  them  knew 
any  thing  about  the  matter.      It  happened  that  one  of 
them  did  know;  she  came  forward,  and  disclosed  the 
whole  affair.      Mrs.  P.  blamed  my  childish  credulity, 
assured  me  that  the  coin  was  nothing  more  than  a  Dutch 
farthing,  and  made  me  look  in  the  Gazetteer,  and  on  the 
map,  for  Stad  Utrecht,  which  I  found  to  be  one  of  the 
states  of  Holland.     She  said  my  folly  had  sufficiently 
punished  itself,  and  she  hoped  that  in  future  I  should 
never  seek  the  cure  of  a  bad  habit  but  by  moral  means, 
or  the  cure  of  a  grievance  but  by  patience,  resignation, 
and  prayer.     I  got  many  a  laugh  from  my  companions 
about  my  stand-upright  medal,  and  I  confess  I  richly 
deserved  them.     As  for  Miss  D.,  who  had  made  me  her 
dupe,  she  was  immediately  restricted  from  all  intercourse 


FOLLY    PUNISHED. 


137 


with  the  young  ladies  for  the  few  remaining  weeks  of 
the  half-year,  and  after  the  holidays  she  returned  no 
more. 

Among  our  boarders  was  a  little  girl  named  Mary  Ann 
S.  She  was  an  only  child ;  her  father  lived  in  the  vil- 
lage, but  at  a  very  early  age  she  was  placed  as  boarder 
with  Mrs.  P.,  on  account  of  the  declining  state  of  her 
mother's  health.  After  two  years'  illness,  Mrs.  S.  died. 
On  this  melancholy  occasion,  much  sympathy  and  good 
feeling  were  discovered  by  the  girls  in  general  towards 
Mary  Ann.  Every  one  tried  some  little  kind  contri- 
vance to  soothe  her  infant  sorrow,  and  each  begged  to 
assist  in  making  up  her  mourning. 

The  widowed  parent  naturally  felt  pleased  at  these 
little  attentions  to  his  child,  and  a  few  months  afterwards 
invited  all  the  young  ladies  to  spend  a  day  at  his  house, 
in  honour  of  Mary  Ann's  birth-day.  Our  governess 
kindly  granted  a  whole  holiday  for  the  purpose,  on  con- 
dition of  our  bringing  up  our  work  the  day  previous. 
Much  diligence  was  exercised  in  this  preparation,  and 
much  pleasure  indulged  in  anticipation  of  the  day. 

Mary  Ann  was  at  home  the  Saturday  before,  and 
brought  glowing  accounts  of  the  extensive  orders  that 
were  issued  for  cakes,  fruits,  and  pastry  of  all  descrip- 
tions ;  that  a  new  magic  lantern  wTas  sent  for  from  Lon- 
don to  be  exhibited  in  Mr.  S.'s  study,  and  that  many 
other  fine  things  were  in  preparation.  I  do  not  recol- 
lect ever  hearing  so  much  talk  in  prospect  of  a  holiday, 
and  I  certainly  never  felt  so  strongly  excited  about  one 
myself,  especially  on  account  of  the  magic  lantern,  which 
I  had  never  seen ;  but  disappointment  awaited  me.  The 
day  before  the  festivities,  Mr.  S.  called  to  say  that  one 
of  his  servants  had  been  taken  ill  with  the  small-pox. 
12* 


138  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

She  was  then  immediately  removed  from  the  house,  and 
every  necessary  precaution  had  been  taken  to  prevent 
the  disease  spreading.  However,  he  thought  it  right  to 
name  the  matter,  in  case  any  of  the  young  ladies  had  not 
had  the  disease.  There  was  only  one  who  could  not 
produce  a  scar,  either  on  her  face  or  her  arm,  in  token 
of  her  security,  and  that  one  was  myself.  My  dear  pa- 
rents had  lost  five  children  by  small-pox,  but  never  could 
consent  to  have  one  inoculated.  Shortly  after  this,  vac- 
cination was  introduced,  and  I  became  a  sharer  in  its 
benefits.  However,  the  circumstance  deprived  me  of  the 
anticipated  pleasure  of  keeping  Mary  Ann's  birth-day. 

My  kind  governess  made  the  disappointment  as  light 
as  possible,  by  permitting  me  to  spend  the  day  with  her, 
allowing  me  to  select  what  books  I  chose  for  my  amuse- 
ment, and  to  examine  her  whole  cabinet  of  curiosities, 
from  which  she  selected  and  presented  to  me  a  curious 
old  fashioned  needle-case,  which  I  to  this  day  retain  as  a 
keep-sake.  It  is  of  ivory,  beautifully  carved,  and  lined 
with  crimson  foil,  and  contains,  in  separate  divisions,  an 
ivory  thimble,  a  bodkin,  a  silk  reel,  and  a  yard  measure. 
The  day  passed  very  happily,  and  Mrs.  P.  proposed,  af- 
ter tea,  to  take  a  walk  and  call  on  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  and 
Mrs.  H. ;  but  as  we  sat  at  tea  a  thunder  storm  came  on, 
which  defeated  our  intentions,  and  which  we  feared  would 
inflict  a  still  heavier  disappointment  on  the  merry  party. 
Mr.  S.,  however,  kindly  provided  that  the  circumstance, 
instead  of  utterly  disappointing  them,  should  be  over- 
ruled for  extending  the  pleasure  to  me.  He  came  in? 
(his  house  was  but  a  few  doors  from  the  school,)  and  re- 
quested permission  to  exhibit  his  magic  lantern  in  Mrs. 
P.'s  parlour,  and  to  illuminate  her  school-room  for  the 
evening  treat.     When  these  arrangements  were  com- 


DISAPPOINTMENT    OVER-RULED.         139 

pleted,  the  young  ladies  were  brought  home  in  a  carriage. 
We  all  spent  a  merry  evening,  and  I  had  a  double  holi- 
day with  only  half  the  fatigue.  Mr.  S.  afterwards  pre- 
sented the  lantern  and  lamps  to  the  school.  The  former 
afforded  us  much  pleasing  recreation,  and  the  latter  ser- 
ved to  illuminate  the  school  on  breaking-up  days,  and 
other  grand  occasions.  I  cannot  forbear  observing  that, 
in  maturer  life,  I  have  often  experienced  that  my  greatest 
advantages  have  resulted  from  circumstances  which,  at 
the  time,  seemed  to  involve  the  disappointment  of  my 
fondest  wishes  and  hopes.  My  young  friends  will  pro- 
bably, at  some  future  day,  make  a  similar  observation. 
Meanwhile,  I  would  recommend  them  to  bear  with  firm- 
ness and  composure  the  little  disappointments  of  child- 
hood, as  a  preparative  for  the  severer  trials  that  await 
them  in  maturer  life. 

The  father  of  one  of  our  young  ladies  was  elected 
member  of  parliament,  after  a  sharp  contest.  Each  day 
he  sent  his  little  girl  a  newspaper,  announcing  the  state 
of  the  poll,  and  at  the  close,  an  immensely  large  cake, 
and  a  profusion  of  delicacies  of  all  kinds  for  a  feast  to  ce- 
lebrate his  election,  with  ribands  for  all  the  young  ladies 
to  wear.  There  was  not  much  pleasure  in  that  holiday ; 
several  quarrels  took  place  in  the  course  of  the  day,  as 
the  friends  of  some  of  the  young  ladies  had  espoused  op- 
posite parties,  and  those  who  happened  to  know  which 
way  their  friends  inclined,  felt  themselves  bound  to  sup- 
port the  cause  of  that  party  ;  though,  in  fact,  they  under- 
stood nothing  about  either  party,  and  it  was  a  great  pity 
to  excite  a  party  spirit  in  children,  whose  minds  and  feel- 
ings might  be  injured  about  they  knew  not  what.  I  re- 
collect Mrs.  P.  seemed  unusually  desirous  of  getting  the 
repast  cleared  away,  the  ribands  put  out  of  sight,  and 


140  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

the  young  people  returned  to  their  quiet  duties  and  sim- 
ple pleasures. 

Well,  I  think  I  have  now  pretty  nearly  exhausted  my 
school  budget :  it  remains  only  to  give  a  few  particulars 
about  breaking-up  day.  No,  I  recall  myself,  there  is 
one  circumstance  which  I  must  not  omit,  because  it  is 
a  subject  that  ought  to  be  brought  before  my  dear  young 
friends,  and  may,  I  trust,  make  salutary  impressions  on 
their  minds.  During  the  period  of  my  being  at  school, 
two  of  my  young  companions  were  called  away  by  death. 
One  of  them  was  a  slender,  delicate  girl,  generally  in 
feeble  health,  and  a  constant  object  of  the  vigilant  and 
tender  solicitude  of  our  kind  governess,  who  never 
suffered  her  to  be  exposed  to  damp  or  evening  air.  The 
other  was  a  lively,  robust  girl,  the  very  picture  of  health 
and  vivacity.  For  her  age,  she  was  the  farthest  advanced 
in  French  and  Italian :  her  English  compositions  were 
spirited,  her  drawings  tasteful  and  correct,  her  musical 
attainments  considerable,  her  needle-work  productions 
distinguished  for  ingenuity,  neatness,  and  expedition. 
In  a  word,  whatever  she  undertook,  she  was  the  leading 
girl  of  the  school.  The  lead  was  assigned  her  both  in 
work  and  play;  withal  she  was  so  good-natured  and 
unassuming,  that  her  superiority  excited  no  jealousy. 
Laura  F.  was  a  universal  favourite.  At  the  close  of  the 
Christmas  vacation,  Laura  returned  to  school  in  bounding 
health  and  spirits,  full  of  the  pleasures  she  had  enjoyed 
at  home,  and  of  ingenious  devices  for  promoting  the  in- 
nocent pleasures  of  school.  Nothing  escaped  her  obser- 
vation ;  and  whatever  she  had  once  seen,  she  was  gene- 
rally successful  in  imitating.  Hence  she  was  continu- 
ally introducing  some  new  variety  in  our  fancy  works 
and  other  recreations.     On  the  day  of  returning  to 


DEATH    OP   SCHOOL-FELLOWS.  141 

school,  our  governess  met  and  conducted  the  pupils 
from  London  and  its  vicinity.  Amidst  the  bustle  of 
greeting  after  five  weeks'  absence,  the  sorrow  of  parting 
with  friends,  and  the  prospect  of  school  duties  and  plea- 
sures, it  was  not  immediately  observed  that  Ellen  W. 
was  missing ;  but  our  dear  governess  appeared  unusually 
pensive  and  anxious,  and  in  the  first  moment  of  quiet- 
ness, she  informed  us  that  Ellen  was  not  to  return  to 
school  this  quarter.  In  the  early  part  of  the  holidays 
she  had  been,  day  after  day,  attending  Christmas  parties, 
and  by  exposure  to  night  air,  after  leaving  close  and 
crowded  rooms,  she  had  taken  a  severe  cold,  by  which 
she  was  still  confined,  and  was,  by  the  direction  of  her 
physicians,  to  be  kept  entirely  to  one  room  until  the  re- 
turn of  settled  mild  weather. 

"  I  hope,  ma'am,"  said  Laura,  "  that  it  is  nothing  more 
than  an  attack  of  her  usual  cough.  You  know,  ma'am, 
how  apt  she  is  to  take  cold  in  keen  or  damp  weather." 

"  Yes,  my  dear,  it  is  an  attack  of  her  usual  cough ; 
but  I  fear  a  far  more  serious  attack  than  she  has  before 
experienced.  Her  parents  will  not  admit  such  a  thought 
themselves,  nor  suffer  the  most  distant  hint  to  be  thrown 
out  in  her  presence  ;  yet  I  cannot  help  apprehending  that 
disease  is  too  firmly  rooted  in  her  frame  to  be  easily  dis- 
lodged, and  such  I  believe  is  the  opinion  of  the  medical 
gentlemen  who  attend  her." 

"  0,  dear,  ma'am,"  observed  Laura,  "  then  you  think 
she  will  die  1  how  much  better  it  would  be  that  both 
Ellen  and  her  parents  should  be  aware  of  the  truth  !  It 
is  such  a  very  solemn  thing  to  die  ;  and  if  death  were  to 
come  without  being  prepared  for  it,  how  very  dreadful !" 

"  How  important  is  it,  my  dear  children,"  replied  Mrs. 
P.,  "that  every  day  of  our  lives  we  should  be  thinking 
about  death,  and  preparing  for  it !  We  do  not  know  how 


142 


THE    GIRL'S    BOOK, 


near  death  may  be  to  any  one  of  us  ;  and  those  persons 
alone  are  truly  happy,  and  live  in  the  real  enjoyment  of 
life,  who  possess  a  humble  consciousness  that  they  can 
welcome  death  whenever  it  may  come.  How  may  this 
consciousness  be  attained  ]" 

Laura's  fine  dark  eyes  glistened  through  a  tear,  while 
she  replied,  "  Mr.  W.  said,  when  he  preached  that  fune- 
ral sermon  to  Mr.  H.,  those  alone  who  can  say,  'To 
me  to  live  is  Christ,'  have  the  privilege  of  adding,  '  and 
to  die  is  gain.' " 

"  Do  you  recollect  how  Mr.  W.  explained  the  phrase, 
*  to  live  is  Christ?'" 

Laura.     "  I  think  it  was  something  like  this  :  — 

"  To  live  in  entire  dependance  on  Christ  for  pardon, 
grace,  and  strength. 

"  To  live  in  delightful  intercourse  with  Christ  by  faith, 
prayer,  and  meditation. 

"  To  live  in  entire  consecration  of  heart,  life,  and  pos- 
sessions, to  the  service  of  Christ." 

Governess.  "  I  am  glad  to  find  that  these  sentiments 
remain  in  your  memory.  May  Divine  grace  imprint 
them  on  your  heart,  and  exemplify  them  in  your  life ; 
then,  whether  death  comes  earlier  or  later,  to  you  it  will 
be  gain !  Poor  Ellen's  case  is  an  affecting  proof  of  the 
importance  of  improving  the  time  of  health  in  thinking 
about  and  preparing  for  death  and  eternity.  How  many 
flatter  themselves  that  they  shall  have  a  long  illness,  and 
plenty  of  time  to  prepare  for  death!  Perhaps  they  may 
be  suddenly  cut  off;  or  perhaps  they  may  be  flattered 
by  mistaken  friends,  from  day  to  day,  that  they  are  get- 
ting better,  and  returning  to  life,  when,  in  fact,  they  are 
hastening  to  the  grave.  I  trust  the  truth  may  be  per- 
mitted to  reach  poor  Ellen's  ears  before  it  be  too  late." 

It  may  be  readily  supposed  that  these  circumstances 


DEATH    OF    SCHOOL-FELLOWS.  143 

and  sentiments  cast  over  us  a  shade  of  solemnity  during 
the  remainder  of  the  journey,  and  that  afterwards,  fre- 
quent inquiries  were  made  concerning  the  health  of  our 
young  companion. 

When  any  friends  of  our  governess  were  going  to  Lon- 
don, she  requested  them  to  call  on  Ellen's  parents,  and 
make  particular  inquiry.  Several  times  her  parents 
wrote,  and  once  Ellen  wrote  herself.  Mrs.  W.  always 
said  that  her  daughter  was  getting  better,  but  that  the 
sharp  winds  kept  her  back,  or  that  a  change  of  medicine 
made  her  appear  not  quite  so  well ;  and  Ellen  herself 
assured  us  that  she  was  almost  well,  excepting  her 
cough  ;  but  she  observed,  she  often  used  to  have  a  cough 
when  at  school,  and  that  she  considered  nothing.  She 
thought  she  should  be  quite  well  when  the  weather  be- 
came mild,  and  she  was  allowed  to  get  out  in  the  air ; 
and  she  hoped  to  return  to  school  after  the  Easter  holi- 
days. Some  of  us  were  much  pleased  to  receive  so 
good  an  account ;  but  our  governess,  who  knew  much 
more  of  the  nature  of  her  disease  and  its  flattering  symp- 
toms, seemed  rather  dejected  than  elated  with  the  ac- 
count. Not  many  days  elapsed  before  another  letter 
came  from  Ellen's  father,  intimating  that  his  daughter 
had  become  rapidly  worse,  and  expressed  a  great  desire 
to  see  her  governess,  whom  he  entreated,  if  possible,  to 
comply  with  her  request.  Mrs.  P.  accordingly  went  up 
by  the  very  next  coach.  She  was  gone  two  days,  and 
returned  late  at  night,  after  we  were  gone  to  bed.  Some, 
who  happened  to  hear  the  ring,  opened  their  chamber- 
door  and  listened,  but  they  could  not  make  out  what  re- 
port was  brought.  But  next  morning,  when  we  went 
into  Mrs.  P's  room  to  family  prayer,  we  observed  that 
she  looked  very  much  dejected,  and  wore  a  black  bow 
in  her  cap.     With  great  feeling  she  read  to  us  the  four- 


144  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

teenth  chapter  of  the  Book  of  Job,  and  at  the  close  of 
prayer,  informed  us  of  the  fact,  which  we  already  strong- 
ly surmised,  that  our  companion  was  no  more.  When 
Mrs.  P.  reached  the  house,  she  found  her  fast  sinking : 
she  appeared  to  know  her,  and  pressed  her  hand,  but  was 
unable  to  speak,  and  in  a  few  hours  she  expired.  Many 
tears  were  shed,  and  much  solemnity  of  feeling  was  ex- 
cited. I  hope  it  did  not  all  pass  away  like  "  the  early 
cloud  and  the  morning  dew." 

The  following  Lord's  day  evening,  our  governess  read 
to  us  a  sermon  from  the  words,  "  So  teach  us  to  number 
our  days,  that  we  may  apply  our  hearts  unto  wisdom." 
Ps.  xc.  12.  We  sung  Dr.  Watts's  thirty-ninth  Psalm, 
"  Teach  me  the  measure  of  my  days,"  and  the  nineteenth 
Psalm,  "  Lord,  what  a  feeble  piece."  Now  we  had  heard 
that  sermon  read  before,  and  we  had  often  sung  those 
Psalms  before,  but  they  seemed  invested  with  a  solem- 
nity and  emphasis  entirely  new,  when  connected  with  the 
death  of  our  school-fellow  ;  and  so  did  those  expressions 
in  prayer,  which  I  fear  had  often  glided  over  our  ears 
without  making  any  impression  on  our  thoughtless  hearts. 
"  And  now,  Lord,  what  wait  we  for  1  our  hope  is  in  thee. 
Let  there  be  no  enemy  to  God  under  this  roof;  —  none 
worshipping  here  now  that  shall  be  wanting  in  the  gene- 
ral assembly  and  church  of  the  first-born  above." 

Not  many  weeks  elapsed  before  the  solemn  warning 
was  repeated  to  us,  and  brought  still  nearer  home.  The 
lovely,  blooming,  healthy,  Laura  F.  was  taken  from  us 
almost  at  a  stroke.  As  she  sat  at  her  drawing-desk,  she 
became  suddenly  ill,  and  fainted  away.  She  was  remo- 
ved into  the  parlour,  and  a  medical  gentleman  sent  for. 
He  directed  that  she  should  be  immediately  put  to  bed, 
in  a  room  quite  detached  from  the  rest  of  the  young  la- 


DEATH    OF    SCHOOL-FELLOWS.  145 

dies,  as  he  apprehended  an  attack  of  infectious  disease. 
Not  one  of  us  was  permitted  to  see  her,  and  our  anxious 
inquiries  met  most  discouraging  replies.     Her  parents 
came  down  to  see  her,  and  two  physicians  from  London, 
but  in  vain  ;  in  about  a  week,  the  beautiful  and  beloved 
Laura  was  numbered  with  the  dead  !   And  now,  my  dear 
young  friends,  need  I  attempt  to  describe  the  feelings  of 
survivors?  will  they  not  have  found  a  counterpart  in 
your  own  bosoms  on  similar  occasions  ?     We  felt  much 
of  childish  sympathy  with  our  companion,  when  we  heard 
of  the  sufferings  she  endured  in  violent  pains  of  the  head, 
and  in  the  application  of  blisters  and  other  painful  or  nau- 
seous remedies  :  and  we  felt  much  of  childish  eagerness 
in  watching  the  arrival  of  nurses,  and  friends,  and  doctors, 
and  much  of  childish  hope  and  fear  as  to  the  success  or 
the  failure  of  their  endeavours  ;  and  much  of  childish  grief 
when  informed  that  our  beloved  companion  would  visit 
us  no  more  ;  and  much  of  childish  curiosity  to  obtain  a 
peep  at  the  gray  coffin,  and  its  silvered  ornaments,  that 
was  to  contain  her  breathless  remains,  and  of  the  white- 
plumed  hearse  that  was  to  bear  them  away,  and  of  the 
mourning  dresses  of  parents  and  relatives  ;  and  much  of 
tender  association  in  the  little  relics  which  were  distribu- 
ted as  keep-sakes  among  her  favourite  friends  —  the  un- 
finished drawing,  the  outline  map,  the  embroidery  sketch, 
the  muslin  work,  the  urn-rug,  and  the  artificial  nosegay, 
which  had  so  lately  engaged  her  busy  fingers,  and  dis- 
played her  ingenuity  and  taste.     But  there  was  one  sub- 
ject that  excited  a  deeper  interest  than  all   the  rest. — 
What  had  become  of  the  never-dying  spirits  of  our  com- 
panions 1   Had  they  met  together  in  the  world  of  endless 
bliss  ]  or  were  they  forever  separated  ?  and  we  remem- 
bered with  regret  any  instance  of  levity  or  dislike  to  holy 
13 


146 


THE    GIRL7S    BOOK, 


things,  any  disposition  to  put  off  the  thoughts  of  death, 
and  cling  to  the  hope  of  life  ;  and  the  silence  of  our  gov- 
erness seemed  invested  with  an  awful  gloom.  On  the 
other  hand,  we  fondly  cherished  the  recollection  of  any 
indication  of  a  love  to  secret  prayer,  of  regard  to  the  pious 
instructions  of  our  governess  or  our  minister,  of  a  con- 
scientious avoiding  of  evil,  even  in  those  things  which 
were  out  of  general  observation,  and  which  once  were 
lightly  thought  of.  We  listened  with  eager  delight  to  the 
testimony  of  our  governess,  that  for  the  last  year  or  more 
she  had  observed  such  a  change  in  the  conduct  and  con- 
versation, even  of  one  who  was  always  correct  and  amia- 
ble, in  her  outward  deportment,  as  led  her  to  hope  that  a 
root  of  vital  piety  was  implanted  within  ;  and  we  heard, 
with  intense  interest,  that  the  utterance  of  every  con- 
scious interval  from  the  pain  or  delirium  of  disease,  was 
an  expression  of  penitence  and  hope,  clinging  to  the  pro- 
mises of  mercy  given  by  Him  who  is  able  and  willing  to 
save  to  the  uttermost. 

And  did  not  these  feelings  and  anxieties  as  to  the  pre- 
vious character,  and  the  eternal  state  of  our  companions, 
clearly  indicate  what  manner  of  persons  we  ought  our- 
selves to  be,  and  what  course  we  ought  to  pursue,  if  we 
desired  to  enjoy  comfort  in  the  prospect  of  death,  and  to 
leave  comfortable  recollections  and  reflections  on  the 
minds  of  surviving  friends'?  And  are  not  the  same  sen- 
timents conveyed  with  equal  force,  my  dear  young  friends, 
to  you  ? 

I  turn  from  the  scenes  of  mortality  to  those  of  joy  — 
for  breaking-up  day,  and  going-home  day,  were  days  of 
pleasure  and  exultation,  though  not  of  that  noisy,  boister- 
ous, unmeaning,  and  mischievous  mirth,  by  which  they 
are  characterized  in  some  schools.    I  have  heard  young 


BREAKING-UP.  147 

ladies  boast,  that  the  happiness  of  breaking-np  day  con- 
sists in  being  allowed  to  do  as  much  mischief  as  they 
please  ;  and  that  the  phrase  "  breaking-up,"  is  not  con- 
fined to  the  temporary  dissolution  of  the  society,  but  ap- 
plies equally  to  forms,  desks,  tables,  and  books.  I  am 
happy  to  say  I  never  witnessed  such  scenes. 

Breaking-up  day  was  at  our  own  disposal,  until  even- 
ing. We  rose  as  early  as  we  pleased  ;  and  I  smile  to 
recollect,  that  some  who  habitually  thought  it  a  hardship 
to  rise  at  six  o'clock  in  summer,  and  seven  in  winter, 
were  most  forward  in  claiming  their  privilege  to  rise  at 
three  or  four,  if  they  chose.  To  make  a  little  distinction 
from  ordinary  days,  we  had  hot  rolls  for  breakfast,  and 
tea  or  coffee  instead  of  milk  and  water,  and  we  were  dis- 
charged from  all  rertrictions  as  to  conversing  in  French 
or  English.  As  our  governess  and  teachers  were  busy 
preparing  for  the  evening,  it  was  a  point  of  emulation 
among  the  elder  girls  to  employ  themselves,  and  invent 
amusements  for  keeping  the  little  girls  quiet.  This  was 
sure  to  gain  the  approving  thanks  of  Mrs.  P.  when  she 
came  to  summon  us  to  the  engao-ements  of  the  evening. 
We  were  expected  on  that  day  to  collect  together  all  our 
writing  and  cyphering  books,  drawing,  music,  and  work 
began  or  finished ;  carefully  to  deposit  in  an  appointed 
place  such  as  were  to  await  our  return  after  the  holidays, 
and  to  pack  up  such  as  were  to  be  taken  home.  Much 
of  character  might  be  discerned  in  the  performance  of 
this.  A  nice  observer  of  human  nature  would  readily 
detect,  in  the  method  of  these  school-packages,  the  neat 
and  thrifty  housewife,  or  the  improvident  slattern  of  fu- 
ture days.  Young  persons  cannot  be  too  frequently 
reminded  that  the  character  may  be  formed  at  a  very 
early  age,  and  that  it  is  often  distinctly  marked  by  very 


148  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

trifling  circumstances.  This  was  the  only  task  required 
of  us.  We  generally  formed  ourselves  into  little  parties, 
and  were  employed  in  completing  articles  of  fancy  work 
as  presents  either  for  our  companions  at  parting,  or  for 
our  friends  at  home  on  meeting.  Meanwhile,  some  in- 
teresting book,  not  generally  granted,  was  read  aloud, 
or  the  elder  girls  were  requested  in  turn  to  relate  some 
entertaining  story,  availing  themselves  of  the  privilege 
of  employing  the  dear  "  mother  tongue,"  in  which  it  was 
observed,  every  thing  could  be  so  much  better  expressed 
and  understood.  One  or  two  of  the  girls  discovered 
considerable  tact  in  working  up  a  journal,  or  record,  of 
the  events  of  the  half-year,  and  I  assure  you  we  felt  no 
small  interest  in  listening  to  the  record  of  our  own  illus- 
trious arrivals  or  departures,  sayings  and  doings,  indul- 
gences or  calamities  ;  of  holidays,  rainy  or  sunshiny ;  of 
the  visits  of  friends  or  strangers ;  the  introduction  of  new 
customs,  approved  or  disliked ;  of  the  produce  of  silk 
works  or  fancy  sales,  and  the  distribution  of  profits ;  of 
the  slumbering  or  awaking  of  dormice  or  squirrels,  and 
the  death  of  kittens  or  canary  birds.  These  and  similar 
events  chained  the  attention  of  twenty  or  thirty  listeners, 
with  an  interest  not  much  less  intense,  though  much  less 
injurious,  than  would  have  been  produced  by  the  read- 
ing of  a  high- wrought  fiction. 

To  save  the  servants  trouble,  in  cooking  and  washing 
up,  when  they  were  otherwise  engaged,  our  dinner  on 
breaking-up  day  consisted  of  sandwiches  and  puffs, 
handed  round,  and  eaten  without  plates,  knives,  or  forks. 
Being  something  new,  this  was  so  very  agreeable,  that 
most  of  us  thought  it  was  a  pity  ever  to  take  the  trouble 
of  laying  a  cloth,  and  preparing  hot  meat :  perhaps,  had 
it  been  constant,  we  should  have  esteemed  it  a  hardship. 


EXAMINATION. 


149 


We  took  tea  at  a  very  early  hour,  afler  which  the  grand 
business  of  the  evening  commenced.  A  considerable 
party  was  generally  assembled  on  these  occasions,  con- 
sisting of  the  parents  or  guardians  of  the  young  ladies, 
and  several  ministers,  and  other  friends,  who  felt  inter- 
ested in  our  improvement.  At  one  end  of  the  long  school- 
room, was  a  range  of  seats,  raised  one  above  another, 
capable  of  seating  all  the  pupils,  who  were  placed  in  the 
order  of  their  classes.  At  the  other  end,  a  platform  rais- 
ed in  like  manner,  on  which  were  placed  chairs  for  the 
guests.  The  room  was  tastefully  lighted  up,  and  deco- 
rated with  flowers.  The  children  were  all  dressed  in  the 
simplest  white,  without  any  ornament  whatever.  I  re- 
collect one  or  two  of  the  young  ladies  had  some  finery 
sent  to  wear  on  the  occasion,  but  Mrs.  P.  begged  to  de- 
cline its  being  worn,  as  she  was  desirous  of  avoiding  any 
thing  that  might  excite  a  fondness  for  display  and  admi- 
ration, and  wished  that  the  only  distinction  perceptible 
on  that  occasion,  should  consist  in  diligence,  proficiency, 
or  propriety  of  demeanour.  One  of  the  teachers,  or  the 
music-master,  if  present,  played  a  quick  march  while  we 
ascended  to  our  seats.  I  suppose  this  was  designed  to 
cheer  and  animate  the  palpitating  little  hearts  that  more 
or  less  shrunk  from  the  ordeal.  I  do  not  know  whether 
any  others  were  as  foolish  as  myself,  but  I  was  dread- 
fully tormented  with  a  nervous  apprehensio  nof  falling 
down,  and  held  fast  to  the  rail  in  front  of  me  the  whole 
time,  not  daring  to  look  to  the  right  hand  or  the  left." 
This  sensation,  in  some  degree,  gave  way  when  it  came 
to  my  turn  to  be  engaged ;■  but  the  remains  of  agita- 
tion continued  with  me  for  days  afterwards,  and  even  dis- 
turbed my  rest  at  nights.  I  hope  the  feeling  was  soli- 
tary. Had  it  been  general,  I  am  sure  our  kind-hearted 
13* 


150  THE    GIRL'S     BOOK. 

governess  would  not  have  knowingly  inflicted  such  pain 
and  distress.  A  more  sublime  piece  of  music  welcomed 
the  entrance  of  the  visiters,  and  then  our  governess  call- 
ed upon  the  youngest  pupil  to  repeat  a  short  poem  from 
memory.  I  remember  a  sweet  little  girl,  not  more  than 
five  years  old,  repeating  "  The  busy  bee ;"  and  her  twin. 
sister,  these  delightful  lines  : 

il  'Tis  religion  that  can  give 
Real  pleasures  while  we  live  • 
'Tis  religion  must  supply 
Solid  comfort  when  we  die  : 
After  death,  its  joys  will  be 
Lasting  as  eternity ; 
Be  the  living  God  my  Friend, 
Then  my  bliss  shall  never  end." 

Thus  the  exercise  proceeded  upwards,  each  in  turn 
repeating  a  piece  adapted  to  her  age  and  capacity,  either 
in  verse  or  prose  ;  some  in  English,  and  some  in  French. 
The  first  class,  consisting  of  about  six,  read  original  es- 
says on  given  subjects. 

After  this,  one  of  the  ministers  present  gave  us  an  af- 
fectionate address,  congratulating  us  on  the  mercy  that 
had  preserved  us  in  health  to  the  close  of  another 
session,  or  alluding  to  the  removal  by  death  of  some  of 
our  companions.  Some  reference  was  generally  made 
to  sentiments  which  had  been  recited  in  the  poems  or 
suggested  in  the  essays,  which  were  pressed  upon  our 
attention  for  practical  purposes.  Wise  and  good  precepts 
were  given  us  for  the  direction  of  our  conduct  during  the 
recess  from  school  duties,  and  especial  appeals  made  to 
any  who  were  about  to  leave  the  school.  Some  exam- 
ples of  early  piety,  or  interesting  anecdotes,  calculated  to 
illustrate  and  impress  the  instructions  conveyed,  gene- 


EXAMINATION.  151 

rally  enlivened  this  address.  Then  we  all  joined  in  sing- 
ing a  hymn  ;  after  which,  another  minister  read  a  chapter 
in  the  Bible,  and  closed  with  prayer,  affectionately  com- 
mitting us  and  our  instructers  to  the  blessing  of  God, 
and  imploring  on  us  his  protection,  guidance,  and  grace, 
through  the  whole  of  our  lives. 

The  company  then  dispersed,  but  they  did  not  imme- 
diately leave  the  room  ;  they  called  to  them  those  chil- 
dren whom  they  knew,  or  in  whose  exercises  they  had 
felt  interested,  and  freely  conversed  with  them.  This 
was  by  far  the  most  pleasant  part  of  the  evening,  when 
the  restraint  of  sitting  in  one  place,  and  the  perturbation 
of  speaking  before  company,  were  laid  aside,  and  we  felt 
ourselves  at  once  honoured  and  encouraged  by  the  notice 
bestowed  on  us  individually.  I  could  mention  the  names 
of  eminent  ministers,  some  living,  and  some  departed,  of 
whose  kind  expressions,  and  affectionate  benedictions,  I 
have  the  most  lively  and  grateful  recollection ;  and  ex- 
cepting the  terrors  of  that  tremendous  scaffolding,  I 
still  look  back  to  the  breaking-up  days  with  interest  and 
pleasure. 

"  Going-home  day,"  my  young  friends  will  conclude, 
was  not  less  pleasing.  An  almost  sleepless  night  gene- 
rally preceded  it,  lest  we  should  not  wake  in  good  time. 
Then  the  bustle  of  cording  boxes  and  writing  directions, 
and  giving  and  receiving  keep-sakes,  and  entrusting  the 
charge  of  pet  animals,  or  the  watering  and  weeding  of 
gardens,  to  those  who  remained  at  school,  with  a  promise 
of  bringing  back  something  for  their  gratification ;  the 
hasty  and  almost  neglected  breakfast,  the  welcome 
sound  of  the  carriage  wheels  and  the  coachman's  ring ; 
the  delight  of  being  crowded  into  the  coach,  Irish  fashion, 
"  more  by  half  than  it  could  hold ;"  the  counting  of  mile- 


152  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

stones,  the  passing  by  a  coach  full  of  school-boys,  who 
pelted  us  with  peas ;  the  entrance  into  gay,  bustling 
London  ;  the  groups  of  anxious  friends  crowding  round 
the  coach  door,  on  our  arrival  in  the  inn  yard,  if  we  were 
rather  late,  or  the  tedious  moments  of  waiting  for  them, 
if  we  were  rather  early ;  the  assorting  and  claiming  of 
packages  and  garments  ;  the  affectionate  embrace  of  pa- 
rents at  meeting,  and  with  governess  and  school-fellows 
at  parting  ;  the  eager  greeting  of  welcome  from  fathers 
and  mothers,  brothers,  sisters,  and  servants ;  the  spying 
every  little  change  in  the  house,  furniture,  and  garden ; 
and  then  the  sober  solid  feeling,  —  "  Well,  I  really  am 
once  more  at  home."  Going-home  day  is  surely  one  of 
the  most  exciting  and  yet  delightful  days  in  a  child's  ex- 
istence, especially  if  it  be  crowned  by  a  testimonial  of 
approbation  from  the  governess,  and  satisfaction  in  the 
parents,  and  closed  with  gratitude  and  consecration  to 
Him  in  whose  hand  our  breath  is,  and  whose  are  all  our 
ways. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


HINTS  AND  EXEMPLIFICATIONS. — IMPORTANCE  OF  THE  PERIOD  OF  YOUTH  AND 
EDUCATION.  —  APPLICATION.  —  SMATTERING.  —  CURMUDGEON.  —  ANON  AND 
IBID.  —  CORRECTING  MISTAKES.  —  CANVASS  WORK.  —  CIRCUMSPECTION. — 
POSSESSING  A  WATCH.  —  PERSEVERANCE.  —  CHURNING  BUTTER.  —  THE  NUT 
TREES.  —  FANCY  WORK.  —  STORY  OF  MATILDA  AND  MARTHA.  —  USELESS  LA- 
BOUR.—  AUNT  RENNIE.  —  MY  SISTER'S  CAP.  —  ACQUIRING  A  LIBRARY.  —  FIC- 
TITIOUS BOOKS.  —  CONSCIENTIOUS  REGARD  TO  TRUTH.  —  LAVISH  SUPPLY  OF 
MONEY.  —  STORY  OF  MISS  J.  —  PRUDENT  DISPOSAL  OF  PROPERTY.  —  VALUE 
OF  ARITHMETIC  — THE  TWO  COUSINS. —ACCUMULATION.  —  THE  WANDER- 
ING SOW.  —  THE  POPLAR  TREES.  —  CHINESE  PROVERB.  —  INSTABILITY  OF 
WORLDLY   POSSESSIONS. —  STORY  OF  THE  GIRL  WITH  A  HUNDRED   FROCKS. 

CHARLES  BAILEY.  —  THE  YOUNG  WIDOW. THE  TEACHER. AMBITION  AND 

CONTENTMENT.  —  COMPENSATIVE  GOODNESS  OF  GOD.  —  THE  MAIMED  HAND. 

THE  BLIND  WOMAN. EMULATION  AND  ENVY. TAKING  PLACES  LN  CLASS. 

—  PRIDE  OF  CONNEXION.  —  CURIOSITY  AND  TATTLING. 


I  now  propose  to  offer  to  my  young  friends  a  few 
miscellaneous  hints  and  observations  on  conduct  and 
character,  which  I  shall  occasionally  illustrate  by  real 
examples. 

Consider  the  vast  importance  of  the  present  period  of 


I54  THE    GIRL'S     BOOK. 

your  existence.  Youth  is  fitly  compared  to  seed-time. 
Now  if  a  farmer  should  be  so  indolent  and  heedless  as 
to  suffer  the  season  of  seed-time  to  pass  neglected,  what 
result  can  be  expected  but  that  in  harvest  he  should 
have  nothing,  and  should  beg]  Or  if  he  should  be  so 
infatuated  as  to  sow  his  fields  with  thistles  and  nettles, 
would  he  have  any  reason  to  expect  that  he  should  reap 
wheat  or  barley?  Now,  my  dear  young  friends,  be  as- 
sured that  the  harvest  of  your  whole  future  existence 
will  be  greatly  influenced  by  the  seed-time  of  your  early 
youth.  Whenever  you  neglect  an  opportunity  of  acquir- 
ing good  instructions,  and  improving  advantages,  you 
are  incurring  a  barrenness  for  future  years,  which  will 
be  keenly  felt  by  yourself,  if  not  perceived  by  others,  to 
your  disgrace.  To  avoid  this,  never  lose  an  opportunity 
of  gaining  useful  knowledge  ;  attend  to  the  observations 
of  wise  and  judicious  persons,  even  on  subjects  which 
may  not  be  immediately  interesting  to  you  :  a  sentiment, 
or  remark,  well  worth  retaining,  may  thus  be  treasured 
up  in  your  mind,  which  at  some  future  time,  when  cir- 
cumstances call  your  attention  to  the  subject  in  question, 
may  start  upon  your  recollection,  and  serve  to  direct 
your  inquiries,  or  to  guard  you  against  error.  And  here 
let  me  caution  you  against  impertinently  interrupting  the 
conversation  of  your  superiors.  Though  not  directly 
addressed  to  you,  if  permitted  to  listen  to  it,  it  may  afford 
you  instruction ;  and  should  it  induce  a  wish  for  farther 
information  on  the  subject,  it  may  be  very  admissible  for 
you  to  watch  an  opportunity,  and  modestly  ask  a  ques- 
tion. Persons  who  are  benevolent  and  condescending, 
as  well  as  intelligent,  would  feel  pleasure  in  imparting 
information  to  a  modestly  inquiring  child  ;  but  it  is  very 
unpleasant  when  rational  conversation  is  interrupted  by 


HINTS    AND    EXEMPLIFICATIONS.  155 

the  petulant  remarks  of  an  impertinent  child,  who  has 
evidently  no  desire  to  be  instructed ;  and  whatever  pro- 
fitable conversation  may  pass  in  the  hearing  of  such  a 
child,  self-conceit  is  sure  to  shut  out.  all  the  benefit  that 
might  have  been  derived. 

In  pursuing  your  studies,  it  will  be  necessary  for  you 
often  to  refer  to  the  judgement  of  your  instructers.  They 
may  wish  you  to  learn  some  things  which  to  you  may 
seem  dull,  dry,  tedious,  and  uninteresting  ;  but  of  which 
they  are  able  to  appreciate  the  importance  and  value 
much  better  than  yourselves.  Now  you  may  depend 
upon  it  that  patient  diligence,  exercised  as  an  act  of  obe- 
dience, will  one  day  find  its  reward.  This  is  particu- 
larly the  case  in  acquiring  any  language,  or  even  the 
grammar  of  your  own  language :  it  does  seem  a  dull, 
unattractive  study,  and  all  the  "  helps "  and  "  made 
easys,"  &c,  have  not  yet  put  the  learner  in  possession 
of  a  method  of  acquiring  knowledge  without  labour  and 
application.  But  there  is  real  mortification  in  store  for 
those  who  "  scamp  over  "  their  lessons  and  amuse  them- 
selves with  the  mere  examples,  when  they  find  them- 
selves destitute  of  a  knowledge  of  the  rules  on  which  to 
construct  language  ;  and  real  pleasure  awaits  those  who 
conscientiously  apply,  when  they  find  themselves  in  pos- 
session of  a  key,  at  which  they  have  long  laboured  with- 
out much  seeming  progress,  but  which  ultimately  unlocks 
to  them  the  stores  of  literature. 

Avoid  smattering  :  whatever  you  take  in  hand  endea- 
vour to  obtain  a  thorough  knowledge  of  it ;  and  be  very 
backward  in  boasting  of,  or  displaying  your  attainments. 
Do  you  imagine  you  know  a  great  deal?  You  could 
not  have  fallen  into  so  gross  a  mistake,  but  by  extreme 
ignorance  of  the  vast  variety  of  subjects  which  you  have 


156  THE     GIRL'S    BOOK. 

never  at  all  studied,  and  the  vastly  higher  attainments  of 
other  persons  in  those  to  which  you  have  paid  some  at- 
tention. I  can  hardly  conceive  a  more  contemptible 
little  being,  than  a  school-girl  who  boasts  that  she  has 
"  learnt  French,"  and  "  understands  music  and  draw- 
ing," and  "studies  geography  and  history,"  etc.  etc., 
when,  if  her  practical  knowledge  were  put  to  the  test, 
she  could  hardly  answer  the  simplest  question,  or  work 
the  easiest  problem,  or  show  up  a  correct  exercise,  or 
play  a  dozen  bars  with  correctness  or  taste,  or  sketch  a 
gate-post  from  nature.  In  every  class  of  society  the 
smatterer  is  deservedly  exposed  to  contempt  and  ridi- 
cule ;  and  should  any  occasion  occur  of  bringing  into 
practical  use  these  superficial  acquirements,  the  result 
must  be  disappointment  and  disgrace.  To  avoid  this, 
endeavour  to  attain  thoroughly  whatever  you  begin  ;  and 
whatever  attainments  you  possess,  let  them  be  drawn 
forth  by  circumstances,  rather  than  ostentatiously  dis- 
played. If  you  have  not  already  perused,  let  me  ear- 
nestly recommend  to  your  notice,  a  paper  by  the  late 
Miss  Jane  Taylor,  entitled,  "  The  Soliloquies  of  a  young 
Lady  and  a  Philosopher."  It  forms  one  of  a  number  of 
delightfully  interesting  and  instructive  essays,  entitled, 
"  Contributions  of  Q.  Q.,"  in  two  volumes. 

Do  not  accustom  yourselves  to  take  things  for  grant- 
ed, or  to  follow  any  thing  blindly,  merely  because  it 
bears  the  sanction  of  a  great  name,  but  endeavour  to 
understand  whatever  you  adopt.  Persons  who  adopt, 
without  understanding,  what  others  have  said  or  writ- 
ten, often  make  most  ridiculous  blunders.  When  Dr. 
Johnson  was  engaged  on  his  great  work,  the  English 
Dictionary,  he  communicated  to  his  literary  friends  a 
list  of  words  of  which  he  could  not  trace  the  etymology 


ANON.    AND    IBID. 


157 


and  requested  from  them  hints,  or  conjectures,  on  the 
subject.  In  the  dictionary,  where  these  conjectures  are 
adopted,  reference  is  made  to  the  source  whence  they 
were  derived.  The  English  word  "  curmudgeon"  was 
one  of  which  Johnson  could  not  trace  the  origin.  The 
word  signifies  a  mean,  miserly  fellow,  and  an  unknown 
correspondent  suggested  whether  it  might  not  be  de- 
rived from  the  French  words  "  coeur  mechani"  a  wicked 
heart.  Johnson  adopted  this  suggestion ;  and  having 
explained  the  word,  says,  "  It  is  a  vicious  manner  of  pro- 
nouncing occur  mechani,  Fr.  —  An  unknown  correspon- 
dent." A  subsequent  dictionary  maker,  who  did  not 
understand  the  French  language,  explains  curmudgeon 
as  "  A  word  of  French  origin,  signifying  an  unknown 
correspondent." 

Do  not  be  too  certain  that  the  first  sense  you  affix 
to  any  word,  or  sentence,  is  the  real  meaning ;  especi- 
ally do  not  too  pertinaciously  maintain,  if  another  person 
think  differently,  but  at  least,  give  yourself  the  trouble 
to  weigh  and  consider  which  is  the  true  meaning.  We 
used  at  school,  a  selection  of  poetry,  from  which  we 
learned  pieces  to  repeat.  In  the  index  of  subjects,  the 
author's  name  was  given.  Between  the  names  "  Mil- 
ton," "  Collins,"  "Cowper,"  "Rodgers,"  "Gray,"  etc. 
etc.,  "  Anon. "  was  pretty  frequently  interspersed.  JNow 
I  question  whether  any  of  us  had  much  considered  its 
meaning ;  and  very  likely  most  of  us,  if  we  thought  at  all 
about  the  matter,  took  it  for  a  proper  name.  The 
mistake  was  easy  and  excusable  ;  but  I  wish  to  tell  you 
how  ridiculous  two  of  our  number  made  themselves  by 
positiveness  on  a  subject  of  which  they  were  ignorant. 
A  lady  who  was  visiting  our  governess  was  much 
pleased  with  some  lines  she  heard  one  of  the  girls 
14 


158  THE     GIRL'S     BOOK. 

repeat,  and  asked  her  who  was  the  author  of  those 
very  pretty  verses.  "  Anon,  raa'm,"  replied  Miss  G. 
"  Anon !"  repeated  the  lady,  "  I  do  not  recollect  a  poet 
of  that  name;  are  you  quite  sure  you  are  correct?" 
"  0  yes,  ma'am,  quite  certain  ;  I  know  a  great  many  of 
his  poems."  "  Pray  at  what  period  did  he  flourish?  I 
do  not  think  his  name  is  recorded  in  Johnson's  Lives  of 
the  Poets."  "  Yes,  rna'am,  I  am  almost  sure  it  is  :  he  is 
rather  a  modern  poet."  "  What  is  the  general  character 
of  his  writings?"  "His  poems  are  chiefly  descriptive 
and  pastoral,  and  not  at  all  of  a  religious  cast,"  "  And 
you  think  it  quite  impossible  that  you  are  mistaken  as  to 
there  having  been  a  real  author  of  that  name  ? "  "  Yes, 
ma'am,  quite  so ;  Miss  T.  has  just  learnt  one  of  his 
poems,  perhaps  she  knows  more  particularly  about  him. 
Now,  Miss  T.,  is  there  not  a  poet  of  the  name  of  Anon?" 
"  O  yes,  to  be  sure  there  is,  rather  an  old  writer ;  don't 

you  know  that  poem  of  his  beginning " 

The  lady  observed  that  she  never  heard  an  author's 
name  assigned  to  that  poem,  and  asked  Miss  T.  what 
was  the  general  character  of  his  writings.  Miss  T.  re- 
plied, "  They  are  quite  of  a  religious  cast,  but  not  of  the 
first  order :  I  mean  they  are  inferior  to  those  of  Milton, 
Young,  and  those  first-rate  men."  The  lady  smiled,  and 
said,  "  Probably  so."  Miss  G.  interposed  —  "  0,  Miss 
T.  you  are  quite  mistaken ;  his  poems  are  not  at  all  re- 
ligious. I  don't  mean  that  they  are  irreligious,  but 
I  am  quite  sure  they  are  not  religious. "  "  0  yes, 
Miss  G.  I  am  quite  sure  they  are ;  for  instance,  there 
is  'Paul's  Speech  before  Agrippa,'  in  blank  verse, 
and  a  piece  on  S  The  Immortality  of  the  Soul.'  Don't 
you  call  those  religious  subjects?"  The  disputants 
were  becoming  quite  warm,  when  the  lady  reminded 


CORRECTING    MISTAKES.  159 

them  of  the  story  of  the  two  knights  who  fell  to  fight- 
ing about  the  colour  of  a  shield,  of  which  each  saw- 
only  one  side.  "  Now,"  said  she,  "  those  knights  were 
mistaken  in  falling  out  about  a  matter  in  which  both 
were  right.  Perhaps  I  shall  be  able  to  convince  you 
that  you  ought  not  to  contend  about  a  matter  in  which 
both  are  wrong.  Anon,  is  a  mere  contraction  of  the 
word  anonymous,  signifying  4  without  a  name  :'  you  will 
find  this  by  examining  and  comparing  several  selections, 
in  most  of  which  the  anon,  does  not  begin  with  a  capital 
A,  which  it  would  do  if  it  were  a  proper  name :  just  in 
the  same  manner  you  see  the  Latin  contraction  ibid,  or 
its  farther  contraction  ib.  signifying  '  the  same '  as  the 
foregoing  author. "  Scarcely  were  my  companions  con- 
vinced even  by  the  display  of  sundry  lists  of  anon. 
and  ibid,  in  different  volumes,  or  even  by  the  strong 
internal  evidence  of  their  mistake  in  their  own  con- 
tradictory statements.  When  persons  have  confidently 
asserted,  and  pertinaciously  maintained  a  matter,  they 
are  much  more  easily  mortified  than  convinced  — a  proof 
that  we  should  be  careful  not  to  say  any  thing  that  we 
do  not  thoroughly  understand,  and  that  we  should  not 
be  positive  in  maintaining  even  that  which  we  think  we 
perfectly  well  know,  but  be  willing  always  to  listen  to 
reason,  and  yield  to  evidence.  This  reminds  me  of  an 
amusing,  but  mortifying  blunder,  of  which  a  family  of  my 
acquaintance  possess  a  permanent  memorial.  A  gentle- 
man about  to  commence  housekeeping,  sent  to  a  corres- 
pondent, in  one  of  our  manufacturing  towns,  for  a  set  of 
very  elegant  tea-trays,  to  be  made  to  order,  which  was 
expressed  somewhat  in  the  following  manner:  — 

"  Twelve  trays,  from  the  largest  size  downwards,  of 
the  best  papier  mache,  rich  border  of  cyclamen,  jessa- 
mine, and  roses,  group  of  flowers  in  the  centre,  well  bur- 


160 


THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 


nished,  and  in  every  respect  finished  off  in  the  most 
complete  manner ;  expense  no  object. 

P.  T.  0." 

These  unfortunate  letters,  meaning  « Please  turn  over,' 
were  added  at  the  foot  of  the  page  to  direct  the  reader 
over  leaf  for  some  direction  as  to  the  time  and  means  of 
conveying  the  package  ;  but,  alas  !  the  master  of  the  es- 
tablishment being  out,  the  young  man,  into  whose  hands 
the  letter  fell,  concluded  that  they  were  the  initials  of  the 
customer  and  his  intended  bride,  and  accordingly  finish- 
ed the  trays  to  order,  but  with  the  addition  of  a  splendid 
cypher,  P.  T.  0.  in  one  corner  of  each  tray.  This  mis- 
take would,  in  all  probability,  have  been  corrected,  if  the 
young  man,  who  received  the  communication,  instead  of 
taking  the  whole  responsibility  upon  himself,  had  asked 
the  opinion  of  any  one  a  little  more  experienced.  Young 
people  will  do  well  to  think  twice,  and  generally  to  ask 
advice  before  they  act. 

Accustom  yourself  to  correct  a  mistake  as  soon  as  you 
perceive  it.  If  it  be  a  small  mistake,  do  not  think  it  too 
inconsiderable  to  be  worth  notice.  It  may  be  productive 
of  serious  injury  to  yourself,  or  of  leading  others  into  er- 
ror. If  it  be  a  great  mistake  into  which  you  have  fallen, 
do  not  be  discouraged  in  attempting  to  correct  it.  There 
is  no  labour  too  great  to  encounter  in  the  attainment  of 
truth,  and  no  state  of  ignorance  or  error  is  hopeless,  while 
there  is  a  humble  desire  to  be  set  right.  I  have  some- 
times been  interested  in  observing  young  ladies  employ- 
ed on  canvass-work,  which  I  have  thought  a  useful  em- 
ployment, from  the  mere  circumstance  of  its  accustoming 
them  to  habits  of  exactness  in  counting  and  calculating. 
But  suppose  the  young  needle- woman  has  inadvertently 


CORRECTING    MISTAKES.  161 

set  a  stitch  one  thread  wrong.  Presently  the  work  is  ob- 
served to  look  a  little  awry,  and  a  mistake  is  suspected  ; 
but  she  is  unwilling  to  give  herself  the  trouble  of  count- 
ing back,  or  she  counts  back  carelessly,  and  so  overlooks 
the  mistake,  and  persuades  herself  that  it  does  not  exist. 
She  goes  on  again,  but  finds  that  every  row,  or  every 
round,  the  mischief  is  aggravated,  the  pattern  cannot  be 
made  to  fit  and  match,  do  what  she  will  ;  at  last  she  de- 
tects the  wrong-set  stitch,  which  is  the  origin  of  all  the 
mischief,  but  then  she  has  done  so  much  since,  that  it 
would  be  quite  a  pity  to  undo  it  all.  "  No,  little  girl,  it 
is  the  only  thing  you  can  do ;  all  your  attempts  to  skip  a 
thread  here,  and  patch  a  stitch  there,  will  never  succeed, 
every  additional  stitch  you  set  only  adds  to  what  must  be 
undone  at  last,  or  your  work  will  be  forever  disfigured." 
One  little  girl,  convinced  of  this  humbling  truth,  with  a 
grave  countenance  and  a  persevering  effort,  sets  to  work, 
unpicks  and  unpicks,  till  she  comes  to  the  original  error. 
One  sigh  perhaps  escapes  over  the  naked  canvass,  then 
with  alacrity  and  care  she  again  begins  filling  up,  taught 
by  experience  to  avoid  mistakes  in  future,  or  to  correct 
them  as  soon  as  perceived,  and  encouraged  at  the  cor- 
rect and  satisfactory  progress  of  her  work  when  conduct- 
ed on  right  principles.  Another  little  girl  suffers  her  tem- 
per to  be  irritated  ;  she  pettishly  drags  out  the  worsted, 
and  breaks  or  draws  aside  the  threads  of  the  canvass,  by 
which  her  labour  is  increased,  and  pei  haps  her  work  com- 
pletely spoiled.  A  third,  in  spite  of  all  remonstrances, 
persists  in  leaving  the  mistake  uncorrected,  flattering  her- 
self that  it  will  never  be  seen  ;  but  there  it  is,  as  long  as 
the  rug,  or  mat,  or  sampler,  is  in  existence,  —  a  disgrace- 
ful monument  of  the  heedlessness  and  perverseness  of 
the  worker.  It  is  thus,  my  young  friends,  with  all  our 
14* 


162  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

errors,  whether  of  sentiment  or  conduct.  The  only  way 
to  safety,  honour,  and  satisfaction,  is  to  trace  the  evil 
to  its  very  root,  and  cut  it  up,  however  painful  and  hum- 
bling the  task  may  be  ;  then  go  on  in  a  different  course, 
and  with  renewed  circumspection. 

"  Circumspection  !"  This  word  reminds  me  of  a 
venerable  minister,  who  used  to  visit  at  our  school,  who 
once  gave  an  illustration  of  the  word,  which  perhaps  may 
be  useful  to  my  young  readers.  "  The  English  word 
circumspection,"  said  he,  "is  formed  from  two  Latin 
words,  circum,  around,  and  specto,  to  look  ;  so  it  means, 
to  look  around,  to  be  vigilant  on  every  side.  Did  you 
ever  see  a  cat  walking  along  ridge-tiles  stuck  with  bro- 
ken glass?  I  am  sure  you  will  say  Puss  walked  cir* 
cumspectltf.  Did  you  notice  how  she  looked  all  round 
for  a  spot  on  which  she  could  safely  plant  her  foot,  and 
avoid  the  sharp  edges  of  the  glass,  and  how  carefully  she 
felt  and  tried  with  her  paw  whether  it  was  firmly  fixed 
before  she  ventured  her  whole  weight  upon  it  ?  So  you 
little  ladies  have  need  to  look  well  around  you  before 
every  step  you  take.  Look  about,  and  be  sure  that  your 
path  runs  in  the  right  direction,  otherwise  you  will  have 
to  take  many  a  weary  step  back  again  ;  and  be  assured, 
however  smooth  and  flowery  the  path  may  be  in  going, 
you  will  find  it  a  thorny  way  to  tread  coming  back. 
Look  around  you,  and  feel  before  you  venture  ;  be  sure 
that  your  footing  is  firm,  or  you  are  likely  to  fall  head- 
long into  disappointment  and  misery.  Look  around, 
and  mind  that  you  do  not  set  your  foot  into  a  trap,  from 
which  you  cannot  escape,  or  get  it  out  with  bleeding 
wounds,  that  will  not  soon  heal.  Every  year  you  live, 
you  will  be  more  and  more  convinced  of  the  need  of 
walking  circumspectly,  either  by  the  growing  experience 


CIRCUMSPECTION.  163 

of  wisdom,  which  will  teach  you  to  discern  snares  and 
avoid  them,  or  by  the  growing  experience  of  folly,  which 
will  bitterly  smart  for  having  neglected  and  fallen  into 
them." 

The  possession  of  a  watch  is  a  grand  object  of  ambi- 
tion with  young  persons  in  general.  I  remember,  when 
a  girl,  being  exceedingly  desirous  of  possessing  one,  and 
exceedingly  delighted  when,  on  my  thirteenth  birth-day, 
my  dear  father  presented  me  with  one  which  had  been 
made  on  purpose  for  me.  But  I  am  not  sure  that  I 
made  a  proper  use  of  it.  I  know  I  felt  great  pleasure 
in  wearing  it,  in  comparing  it  with  the  house  clock  and 
the  church  clock,  in  being  asked  what  o'clock  it  was, 
and  in  winding  it  up,  and  hanging  it  up  at  my  bed's  head 
at  night ;  but  I  fear  it  did  not  always  stimulate  me  to 

"  Shake  off  dull  sloth,  and  vig'rous  rise, 
To  pay  my  morning  sacrifice ;" 

nor  did  it  always  prompt  me  to  the  diligent  improvement 
of  every  hour  in  the  day,  and  a  careful  self-scrutiny  at 
night.  I  used  to  think  that,  when  I  possessed  a  watch, 
I  should  never  be  inclined  to  waste  a  moment ;  but  I 
perceived  that  the  principle  of  a  diligent  improvement  of 
time  must  be  found  in  something  more  than  the  ticking 
of  a  watch.  My  young  readers  may  not  have  met  with 
the  following 

LINES    TO    A    WATCH. 

"  Little  monitor !  by  thee 
Let  me  learn  what  I  should  be  ; 
Learn  the  round  of  life  to  fill, 
Useful  and  progressive  still. 
Thou  canst  useful  hints  impart 
How  to  regulate  the  heart : 


164  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK 

When  I  wind  thee  up  at  night, 
Mark  each  fault,  and  set  thee  right ; 
Let  me  search  my  bosom  too, 
And  my  daily  thoughts  review  : 
Mark  the  movements  of  my  mind, 
Nor  be  easy  when  I  find 
Latent  errors  rise  to  view, 
Till  all  be  regular  and  true." 

Let  me  recommend  to  my  young  friends  a  habit  of 
perseverance  in  well-doing,  as  opposed  to  that  impa- 
tience which  is  too  eager  for  results,  and  which,  if  they 
do  not  immediately  appear,  is  apt  to  give  way  to  discou- 
ragement or  instability.  "I  have  been  fagging  at  it  a 
whole  year,  and  I  get  no  ground ;  I  might  as  well  give 
it  up  at  once ;  I  am  certain  I  shall  never  be  able  to  make 
any  thing  of  it."  Such  is  not  unfrequently  the  despon- 
ding conclusion  of  a  learner,  who  at  first  was  too  much 
elated  with  the  little  show  she  made,  (in  writing,  draw- 
ing, or  whatever  the  pursuit  might  be,)  and  then  finding 
her  subsequent  progress  not  so  rapid  and  visible  as  she 
expected,  had  not  patience  steadily  to  persevere.  In 
this  way,  I  have  known  children  very  eager  to  read  a 
book,  and  read  or  listen  very  attentively  to  the  first  few 
pages,  but  the  story  did  not  go  on  quite  so  fast  as  they 
wished,  or  some  sentiments  or  reflections  were  intro- 
duced which,  though  essential  to  a  right  understanding 
of  the  work,  seemed  to  them  dry  and  uninteresting.  So 
they  skipped  over  here  and  there,  just  picking  out  such 
bits  as  seemed  most  entertaining,  and  then  flattered  them- 
selves, and  perhaps  professed  to  others,  that  they  had 
read  the  book.  This  was  indeed  a  foolish  self- deceiv- 
ing. Now  there  are,  at  least,  two  motives  to  persever- 
ance which  ought  to  be  impressed  on  the  mind  of  every 


PERSEVERANCE.  !65 

learner  and  every  beginner.  Without  perseverance  all 
your  past  labour  is  lost ;  and  in  perseverance  every  step 
brings  you  nearer  to  success.  Did  you  ever  see  a  dairy 
maid  churning  her  butter  ]  It  is  a  laborious  and  mono- 
tonous exercise,  whether  to  turn  the  handle  of  a  barrel 
churn  round  and  round,  or  to  lift  the  handle  of  an  upright 
churn  up  and  down,  up  and  down,  for  an  hour  together ; 
and  yet,  if  she  becomes  loitering  or  impatient,  and  suf- 
fers the  motion  to  stop,  not  merely  its  progress  arrested, 
but  in  the  dairy  language,  "  the  butter  goes  back ;"  the 
business  does  not  remain  stationary,  but  retrogrades. 
But  if  in  spite  of  weariness  she  goes  steadily  on,  perhaps 
only  two  or  three  strokes  after  she  has  resisted  the  temp- 
tation to  flag,  a  thickening  sound  is  perceptible  in  the 
liquor,  which  indicates  that  the  change  she  has  so  anx- 
iously waited  has  actually  taken  place.  So,  my  dear 
young  friends,  be  encouraged  not  to  cast  away  good  be- 
ginnings ;  press  on,  however  weary,  and  perhaps  a  very 
few  more  steps  may  reward  your  perseverance.  In  an 
inferior  sense,  that  encouraging  maxim  of  Scripture  will 
apply  to  every  virtuous  pursuit,  and  in  the  highest  degree 
to  the  most  important  pursuit  of  all — "Be  not  weary  in 
well  doing,  for  in  due  season  we  shall  reap  if  we  faint 
not."     Gal.  vi.  9. 

The  eager  impatience  of  some  young  people  to  get 
through  a  book,  or  to  make  a  show  in  any  pursuit  before 
they  have  made  real  progress,  or  really  understand  what 
they  are  about,  often  reminds  me  of  one  of  my  childish 
follies.  I  once  set  four  very  fine  filberts  in  my  father's 
garden,  and  pleased  myself  with  the  idea  of  their  becom- 
ing trees,  from  which  I  should  gather  fruit  and  present  to 
my  friends.  This  was  about  November.  I  asked  the 
old  gardener  how  long  it  would  be  before  they  would 


166  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

come  up.  I  sighed  as  he  replied,  "  Four,  five  month ; 
may  be  two  winter :  sometime  de  nut  remain  in  ground 
two  winter,  den  come  up  fine  strong  plant."  "  Be  sure 
you  don't  dig  them  up,  Monet,"  I  said.  "Ah,  no;  I 
will  put  four  marks  to  keep  place  where  miss  plant  her 
nut  trees." 

When  I  was  at  home  a  few  days  at  Easter,  I  reckoned 
that  four  months  had  elapsed,  and  with  some  self-com- 
placency at  my  own  patient  waiting  so  long,  (though,  by 
the  way,  I  had  no  opportunity  of  doing  otherwise,)  I 
proceeded  to  the  spot  in  full  expectation  of  seeing  them 
come  up  ;  but  nothing  appeared.  I  began  to  think  that 
they  must  have  been  devoured  by  mice  or  squirrels,  and 
began  digging  the  spot  with  a  trowel.  After  some  little 
search  I  found  one  of  my  nuts ;  it  appeared  very  moist 
and  black,  with  lying  in  the  ground,  but  I  could  perceive 
no  appearance  of  growing;  I  cracked  the  shell,  and 
found  that  the  kernel  was  much  swollen ;  and  on  biting 
it,  found  a  bitter  disagreable  taste.  Just  as  I  put  it  out 
of  my  mouth,  Monet  came  up.  "  Ah,  miss,  miss,  tell 
Monet  '  no  dig  up  my  nuts  ;'  miss  dig  'em  up  herself." 
"Yes,  Monet,"  1  replied,  "it  is  of  no  use  to  leave  them 
in  the  ground,  they  have  been  in  above  four  months,  and 
are  not  a  bit  the  forwarder ;  they  will  never  grow."  Mo- 
net picked  up  the  kernel  that  I  had  just  thrown  down, 
and  having  split  it,  showed  me  in  the  centre  a  little  tiny 
germ,  just  ready  to  burst  forth.  He  made  me  also  ob- 
serve that  the  substance  of  the  nut  appeared  more  soft 
and  spongy  than  when  first  gathered,  and  that  it  was  so 
much  enlarged  in  size,  as  that  it  would  very  soon  have 
broken  the  shell ;  all  this,  he  told  me,  indicated  the  cer- 
tain progress  of  vegetation.  I  was  now  vexed  that  I  had 
removed  my  nut,  and  anxious  to  have  it  replanted ;  but 


THENUTTREES.  167 

this,  Monet  assured  me,  was  quite  useless.  The  little 
germ  was  not  far  enough  advanced  to  make  its  way  with- 
out the  protection  of  the  shell.  I  felt  vexed  at  my  own 
folly,  but  resolved  to  content  myself  with  three  trees  in- 
stead of  four,  and  to  wait  patiently  the  developement  cf 
the  operations  of  nature. 

At  Midsummer,  when  I  came  home,  I  was  delighted 
to  perceive  two  fine  strong  plants,  each  with  six  leaves, 
in  the  places  where  two  of  my  nuts  were  set.     Shall  I 
own  that  I  was  then  as  skeptical  at  the  haste,  as  before 
I  had  been  at  the  delay?     "  It  is  impossible,"  I  thought, 
"that  in  these  few  weeks  a  strong  stalk,  and  six  large 
leaves,  can  have  sprung  from  a  little  nut,  which  then  had 
scarcely  any  signs  of  life.     Besides,  if  these  two  came 
from  the  nuts,  why  did  not  the  third  come  as  well  1     I 
am  sure  I  only  dug  up  one  of  the  four."     To  satisfy 
myself  I  again  had  recourse  to  the  trowel.     After  a  little 
digging,  I  found  the  decaying  nut  on  the  root  of  each, 
and  was  convinced  that  these  beautiful  little  trees  were 
but  the  advancement  of  a  germ  like  that  which  Monet 
had  shown  me  in  the  one  I  destroyed.     I  replaced  them 
as  carefully  as  I  could  ;  and  feeling  somewhat  ashamed 
of  my  exploit,  and  unwilling  to  be  again  detected,  I  did 
not  grope  any  farther  to  find  the  fourth  nut,  but  conclu- 
ded that  it  had  perished,  and  that  I  should  do  very  well 
with  two  nut  trees.      Next  day,  however,  I  was  much 
concerned  to  find  my  trees  looking  very  flabby  ;  whether 
I  had  injured  the  delicate  roots,  or  whether  it  was  owing 
to  the  dryness  of  the  ground  and  the  heat  of  the  sun  I 
knew  not ;  but  I  felt  something  like  a  foolish  mother, 
who,  when  she  sees  her  child  sickening  and  pining,  feels 
conscious  that  she  has  given  it  some  unwholesome  food, 
or  been  in  some  way  negligent  of  it.      Confused  and 


168  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

grieved,  I  called  in  the  council  of  old  Monet,  who  kind- 
ly afforded  them  every  aid  in  his  power,  by  constant  wa- 
tering, and  sheltering  from  the  heat  of  the  sun.  One  of 
them  soon  recovered,  but  the  other  still  looked  sickly ; 
it  advanced  no  farther  in  its  growth,  but  dwindled  away, 
and  died.  My  stock  was  now,  to  all  appearance,  re- 
duced to  one  tree.  I  consoled  myself  as  well  as  I  could 
for  the  failure  of  the  rest,  and  centred  my  attention  in 
the  one  that  remained.  I  was  anxious  to  know  how 
soon  it  might  be  expected  to  bear  fruit,  and  sighed  again 
when  Monet  replied,  "  Three  —  four  year,  may  be  five 
—  six."  An  unexpected  pleasure,  however,  awaited  me 
in  one  instance.  The  following  spring,  as  I  watched 
the  opening  leaf-buds  on  my  one  tree,  I  perceived  a 
strong  plant  thrusting  up  the  earth,  and  on  calling  in  my 
old  friend  Monet,  had  the  satisfaction  of  receiving  his 
decided  opinion  that  it  was  my  fourth  filbert,  which,  after 
remaining  so  many  months  under  ground,  was  now  ma- 
king its  way  with  proportionate  vigour.  It  soon  over- 
took its  elder  brother,  and  strongly  impressed  on  my 
mind  the  importance  of  allowing  time  and  patience  to 
every  important  operation.  Many  years  have  I  gather- 
ed fruit  from  both  the  trees ;  they  still  flourish,  and  re- 
mind me  that  but  for  my  own  childish  impatience  and 
despondency,  I  might  have  possessed  two  more  equally 
valuable.  I  am  ashamed  and  grieved  when  I  reflect 
how  many  valuable  books  I  might  have  understood 
more  thoroughly,  and  how  much  valuable  knowledge  of 
one  kind  or  other  I  might  have  acquired,  but  for  the  oc- 
casional indulgence  of  those  follies  against  which  I  warn 
my  dear  young  friends. 

I  have  already  hinted  (p.  69)  at  the  fondness  of  young 
persons  in  general,  for  what  is  called  fancy  work.      I 


THE    NUT    TREES.  Iby 

will,  however,  add  a  remark  or  two  on  the  subject. 
First,  I  would  say,  regard  proper  bounds  as  to  the  time 
and  attention  bestowed  on  these  inferior  pursuits ;  and 
next,  be  rather  ambitious  to  do  a  few  things  well,  than  to 
imitate,  in  a  careless  and  slatternly  manner,  every  thing 
you  see..  Some  children  discover  a  disposition  to  begin 
every  thing  and  finish  nothing.  I  am  sorry  when  I  see 
this  even  in  their  little  amusements,  for  it  is  a  habit  that 
is  very  likely  to  go  with  them  into  more  important  con- 
cerns, and  be  very  injurious.  I  recollect  on  the  day  of 
my  entering  school,  when  I  was  calculating  largely  upon 
the  pleasure  of  learning  to  do  chenile  work,  and  wax 
work,  and  muslin  work,  and  fancy  work  of  all  kinds,  my 
good  governess  told  me  the  story  of  two  of  her  earliest 
pupils,  more  than  twenty  years  before,  a  story  which  I 
have  seen  verified  many  times  since.  "  The  parents  of 
Matilda,"  said  my  governess,  **  were  falsely  indulgent, 
and  the  little  girl  was  capricious  and  self-willed.  Un- 
fortunately, she  was  a  day- scholar,  and  so  had  an  op- 
portunity of  communicating  her  whims  as  fast  as  they 
arose,  and  gaining  permission  to  indulge  them.  Every 
new  piece  of  fancy  work  that  was  brought  into  the  school 
Matilda  must  needs  begin  one  like  it ;  but  she  persuaded 
her  mamma  that  plain  work  made  her  head  ache,  and 
that  the  lessons  and  exercises  set  her  were  so  difficult 
that  it  was  impossible  for  her  to  do  them.  Then  she 
would  come  late,  and  bring  a  note  to  beg  that  sha  might 
be  excused,  not  being  quite  well.  All  my  endeavours 
to  do  good  to  this  child  were  in  vain  ;  and  as  I  found  her 
example  was  injurious  to  my  other  scholars,  I  was  obli- 
ged to  request  her  parents  to  remove  her.  She  had  to 
take  home  plenty  of  spoiled  satin,  and  spoiled  muslin, 
and  spoiled  canvass,  and  tangled  silks,  worsteds,  and 
15 


170  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

cottons,  but  not  one  finished  piece  of  work  of  any  kind, 
nor  one  useful  attainment.  I  grieved  for  her  then, 
and  I  grieve  now ;  for  she  is  the  untidy,  idle,  extrava- 
gant mother  of  a  set  of  neglected  children,  and  scarcely 
knows  how  to  mend  a  shirt  for  her  husband,  to  cast  up  an 
account,  or  to  write  a  letter.  What  would  become  of 
Matilda  and  her  family  if  she  should  be  left  a  widow? 

"Her  cousin  Martha  is  a  very  different  character. 
Martha's  parents  had  her  real  welfare  at  heart  more  than 
her  momentary  gratification.  She,  too,  was  a  day-scho- 
lar; but  in  coming  to  school  was  as  punctual  as  the 
clock,  and  always  with  her  lessons  and  exercises  well 
prepared.  Her  parents  impressed  on  her  mind  a  sense 
of  the  value  of  instruction,  and  of  the  necessity  of  dili- 
gence in  improving  it.  Martha  was  an  ingenious  little 
girl,  and  her  mother  had  no  objection  to  her  occasionally 
learning  a  little  fancy  work ;  but  this  indulgence  was 
granted  as  a  recreation,  not  pursued  as  a  business,  and 
always  a  reward  for  attention,  diligence,  and  persever- 
ance in  some  less  attractive  pursuit.  Whatever  Mar- 
tha began  she  finished.  Her  neat  parlour  is  now  decorat- 
ed with  copies  of  some  of  the  pieces  you  see  here  ;  and, 
what  is  far  more  important,  she  is  neat,  industrious, 
clever,  and  managing  in  all  the  concerns  of  her  house 
and  family." 

The  story  of  Matilda  and  Martha  sunk  into  my  me- 
mory, and,  together  with  my  governess's  observations, 
somewhat  sobered  my  passion  for  fancy  work.  I  de- 
termined not  to  ask  leave  to  set  about  any  until  I  had 
accomplished  something  plain  and  useful.  Accord- 
ingly, my  completing  a  set  of  shirts  for  my  father  was 
rewarded  by  permission  to  select  any  piece  of  fancy  work 
I  might  prefer.      My  young  friends  will  perhaps  find 


USELESS    LABOUR AUNT    RENNIE 


171 


their  advantage  in  a  somewhat  similar  discipline  and  re- 
straint. 

Another  remark  I  would  suggest  on  fancy  work  is,  the 
preference  due  to  intrinsic  value,  rather  than  the  mere 
boast  of  expense  or  labour.  I  have  heard  young  ladies 
or  their  mothers,  when  displaying  their  productions,  boast 
"  that  it  took  six  months  to  do  it,  and  the  silk  alone  cost 
between  two  and  three  guineas."  "Astonishing!"  re- 
plies one  of  the  admiring  spectators,  "  what  an  immense 
deal  of  work  there  is  in  it !  one  canhardly  believe  that  it 
was  all  done  stitch  by  stitch  with  the  needle.     I'm  sure 

till  you  told  me  it  was  Miss 's  own  work,  I  thought 

it  had  been  done  in  a  loom."  Yes,  —  and  upon  reflec- 
tion, it  appears  that  the  time  and  cost  constitute  the 
chief  beauty  of  the  piece  ;  a  better  article,  in  point  of  real 
beauty  and  utility,  might  have  been  procured  for  far  less 
money.  Compare,  for  instance,  the  dull  laborious  fili- 
gree of  former  days  on  a  work-box  or  tea-caddy,  with 
the  neat  rosewood,  satinwood,  or  even  mahogany  ar- 
ticle of  the  regular  cabinet-maker  ;  and  the  tedious  em- 
broidery, with  a  well  executed  engraving.  For  a  very 
short  time  are  these  boarding-school  productions  looked 
at  with  any  interest :  in  a  few  years  they  become  old 
fashioned,  and  are  transferred  from  the  drawing  room  to 
the  breakfast  parlour,  the  nursery,  and  the  garret. 

There  are  in  our  family  two  traditions,  which,  even  in 
the  days  of  my  youth,  did  much  to  cure  me  of  this  spe- 
cies of  laborious  trifling.  One  is  of  "Aunt  Rennie" 
(some  great  aunt  of  my  grandmother's)  "  who  worked 
herself  blind."  Some  remains  of  her  labours  still  exist, — 
a  counterpane  closely  stitched  all  over,  of  which  it  was 
her  boast  that  "  there  is  not  an  inch  together  in  any  part 
that  is  not  worked  upon."  There  is  also  an  apron,  very 
much  resembling  those  cut  in  paper  at  the  present  day 


172 


THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 


to  hang  in  front  of  grates.  At  first  sight,  you  might 
imagine  that  the  pattern  was  cut  out  in  like  manner,  in  a 
substance  of  thick  sheeting  or  hosiery ;  but,  on  close 
examination,  it  proves  that  the  solid  part  is  fine  point, 
worked  stitch  by  stitch,  with  fine  thread,  accomplished, 
perhaps,  at  the  rate  of  an  inch  a  day.  And  what  was 
her  reward  1  —  years  of  blindness,  and  inability  to  pursue 
any  useful  employment  for  her  family,  or  to  read  the 
book  of  God  for  her  own  edification. 

The  other  story  was  of  my  eldest  sister,  who,  at  the 
age  of  nine  or  ten  year^,  was  placed  at  a  school  of  the 
old-fashioned  stamp,  where  these  almost  obsolete  la- 
bours were  still  cultivated  as  accomplishments.  She 
was  to  work  a  baby's  cap  for  some  expected  brother  or 
sister,  and  the  governess  resolved  that  no  labour  or  cost 
should  be  spared  to  render  it  "  the  most  beautiful  that 
ever  was  seen."  The  criterion  of  beauty,  it  seems,  con- 
sisted in  "  the  work  being  so  thick  that  you  could  not  set 
a  pin's  point  between."  This  herculean  effort  of  child- 
ish skill  and  patience  was  at  length  accomplished,,  well 
begrimed  by  the  little  toilsome  fingers,  and  often  watered 
with  the  briny  tears  of  weariness  and  disgust ;  and  what 
with  the  dirt,  the  tears,  the  weakening  of  the  fabric  by 
drawing  threads  from  the  cambric  for  open  work,  and  the 
weight  of  the  solid  work  added,  when  the  said  cap  was 
washed  preparatory  to  its  being  made  up  for  use,  it  entirely 
dropped  to  pieces,  and  the  poor  little  worker  had  to  sigh 
over  months  of  labour  in  vain. 

In  this  miscellaneous  chapter  I  beg  to  drop  a  hint  or 
two  about  the  acquirement  of  a  library.  I  should  recom- 
mend all  young  persons  to  begin  early,  and  steadily  per- 
severe in  getting  up  a  valuable  selection  of  books.  Most 
young  people  have  a  weekly  or  quarterly  allowance  of 
pocket-money;  a  considerable  proportion  of  this  would  be 


ACQUIRING    A    LIBRARY.  173 

well  bestowed  on  books  of  real  interest  and  utility.  Those 
who  cultivate  a  taste  for  reading  are  in  little  danger  of 
being  tempted  to  squander  their  money  on  the  mean  and 
childish  gratifications  of  the  palate,  or  on  useless  baubles 
and  trinkets.  There  is  some  good  gained  in  cultivating 
a  more  refined  and  exalted  taste.  Be  careful  in  your 
choice  of  books.  When  a  young  person  discovers  the 
very  lauable  desire  to  gather  for  herself  a  little  library,  it 
is  much  to  be  wished  that  her  money  should  be  turned 
to  the  best  account.  It  will  in  general  be  wise  to  ask 
the  counsel  of  some  experienced  friend  that  you  may  not 
be  imposed  upon  by  the  purchase  of  worthless  or  perni- 
cious trash,  being  caught  by  an  attractive  title,  or  a 
showy  manner  of  getting  up.  I  would  caution  you  also 
against  the  purchase  even  of  standard  works,  without 
consulting  some  friend  of  judgement  and  experience  as 
to  a  good  edition.  In  the  days  of  my  youth,  when  I  was 
devoting  a  portion  of  my  little  resources  to  putting  my- 
self in  possession  of  a  library,  I  was  more  than  once 
caught  by  advertisements  of  cheap  books,  which  proved 
very  worthless.  "  Cowper's  Poems"  was  early  set  on 
my  list  of  desiderata;  and,  seeing  an  edition  advertised 
at  a  low  price,  I  hastened  to  order  it,  but  was  not  a  little 
mortified  on  finding  myself  in  possession  of  that  delight- 
ful work,  printed  on  the  commonest  tea  paper,  and  with 
such  utter  disregard  to  all  rules  of  spelling  and  pointing, 
as  rendared  it  absolutely  unintelligible.  After  a  while,  I 
exchanged  it,  and  got  from  the  bookseller  an  allowance 
of  about  one  third  the  low  price  I  had  paid  for  what  was 
absolutely  worthless.  I  therefore  caution  my  young 
friends  against  being  taken  in,  in  a  similar  manner. 
Again  :  do  not  be  tempted  hastily  to  buy  every  "  pretty" 
or  "  interesting"  book  you  may  meet  with.  There  are 
many  b^oks  with  which  one  may  be  pleased  on  a  first 
15 


174  THE    GIRLTS    BOOK. 

reading,  which  do  not  possess  a  "permanent  interest  or 
value.  It  is  very  well  to  read  them  if  an  opportunity 
offers,  but  they  are  not  worth  possessing.  In  forming  a 
library,  it  is  desirable  to  select  those  works  which  may 
be  referred  to,  or  read  with  interest,  again  and  again,  at 
every  period  of  life  ;  and  here  let  me  remark,  I  would  by 
no  means  advise  my  young  friends  to  cast  away,  as 
childish,  the  books  of  their  childhood.  If  really  sensible 
and  judicious,  they  may  be  referred  to  with  interest  and 
improvement  in  mature  life,  and  will  often  serve  to  awa- 
ken the  most  pleasing  recollections,  and  recall  the  most 
valuable  instructions,  as  well  as  be  esteemed  almost  as 
a  sacred  relic  by  succeeding  generations.  This  I  can 
testify  from  experience. 

This,  perhaps,  is  as  good  a  place  as  any  to  drop  a  cau- 
tion against  the  love  of  fictitious  reading.  Truth  invigor- 
ates the  mind,  fiction  excites  and  enfeebles  it.  This  re- 
mark does  not  apply  to  those  works  of  which  the  real 
object  is  the  enforcement  and  illustration  of  truth,  by  ex- 
amples of  character,  where  the  circumstances  are  kept 
within  the  bounds  of  every-day  occurrence,  and  where 
there  is  little  more  of  fiction  than  the  names,  but  to  those 
in  which  truth  is  sacrificed  to  effect,  and  probability  to 
excitement;  the  scenes  of  human  life  are  invested  with 
an  unreal  splendour,  and  character  with  a  fascinating 
loveliness,  though  unsustained  by  any  one  principle  of 
real  excellence.  Such  reading  has  a  strong  tendency  to 
injure  the  youthful  mind,  to  weaken  its  principles,  to  warp 
its  standard  of  right  and  wrong,  to  give  a  disrelish  for  the 
ordinary  duties  of  life,  to  render  irksome  the  sober  coun- 
sel and  restraints  of  parents  and  friends,  and  to  produce 
a  rebellious  dissatisfaction  with  the  allotments  of  Provi- 
dence. Almost  every  reader  of  such  books  fancies  her- 
self the  heroine  of  a  similar  tale,  and  feels  herself  griev- 


FICTITIOUS    BOOKS. 


175 


ously  injured  if  she  does  not  receive  all  the  sentimental 
homage  of  which  she  reads,  and  if  she  does  not  experi- 
ence those  "  fortunate  coincidences"  which  would  instan- 
taneously place  her  in  all  the  sentimental  bliss  and  ele- 
vation of  which  her  sickly  imagination  has  dreamed. 

I  am  thankful  that  the  days  of  my  youth  were,  in  a 
great  measure,  shielded  from  such  temptations.  I  was, 
in  general,  out  of  the  way  of  seeing,  hearing,  or  think- 
ing about  such  books.  But  I  was  once  on  a  visit  to  two 
young  friends,  who  were  in  the  habit  of  consuming  much 
of  their  time  and  money  on  the  pernicious  trash  of  a  cir- 
culating library ;  and  I  must  acknowledge  with  shame, 
that  although  at  the  very  time  a  sort  of  disgust  mingled 
with  the  fascination,  the  reading  of  that  month,  though 
confined  to  books  pronounced  unexceptionable  in  their 
moral  tendency,  unsettled  my  mind  for  at  least  a  year 
from  steady  and  regular  application  to  more  profitable 
studies  ;  it  excited  a  hankering  after  fresh  gratification  ; 
it  led  to  the  writing  a  few  foolish  sonnets  and  elegies, 
and  the  indulgence  of  a  few  idle  day-dreams  which,  hap- 
pily, never  were  realized  ;  and  oh,  what  a  mercy  for  me 
that  there  the  mischief  ended  !  It  is  not  so  in  every  case. 
I  could  point  to  instances  where  it  has  led  to  the  forma- 
tion of  imprudent  connexions,  and  to  the  exciting  of  vain 
and  delusive  expectations,  and  the  propensity  for  that 
kind  of  reading  has  been  in  after-life  indulged,  to  the  neg- 
lect of  family  duties  ;  a  mother  has  deferred  attention  to 
her  babe,  because  she  wrould  not  be  interrupted  in  peru- 
sing the  exciting  details  of  a  novel.  In  other  cases,  the 
sickly  taste  has  been  indulged  till  the  subjects  of  it  have 
brought  themselves  into  a  state  bordering  upon  insanity, 
and  rendered  themselves  utterly  useless  in  society,  and  a 
burden  to  themselves,  the  prey  of  imaginary  miseries  and 


176  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

imaginary  terrors.  Let  me  entreat  you,  my  dear  young 
friends,  to  be  select  in  your  reading ;  seek  the  advice 
and  direction  of  judicious  friends  ;  tremble  at  the  thought 
of  perusing  a  book  which  is  lent  you  with  an  injunction 
to  secrecy,  or  in  which  it  strikes  you  that  secrecy  is  de- 
sirable ;  and  even  in  using  the  very  best  books  of  an  en- 
tertaining cast,  be  careful  to  exercise  moderation.  Let 
them  be  kept  in  their  proper  place  ;  give  them,  occasion- 
ally, a  few  moments  of  recreation,  but  do  not  alienate  to 
them  the  hours  that  ought  to  be  devoted  to  solid  improve- 
ment, to  ordinary  duties,  or  to  the  sacred  exercises  of 
religion. 

Let  me  urge  on  my  young  friends  a  strict  and  consci- 
entious regard  to  truth.  I  have  known  school-girls  who 
would  not,  for  the  world,  be  thought  guilty  of  falsehood, 
boast  how  cleverly  they  had  deceived.  "  I  said  no,  when 
I  meant  yes ;  but  I  whispered  to  myself,  '  the  backward 
way"'  and  so  it  was  only  a  white  lie  to  save  a  school-fel- 
low from  disgrace."  "  The  teacher  asked 'me  if  I  had 
done  my  exercise.  I  said  '  Yes,  JVIa'am,'  and  that  was 
true  enough,  for  I  had  done  it,  but  not  to-day."  Many 
such  foolish  and  wicked  sayings  I  have  heard ;  and  as 
human  nature  is  the  same  in  every  age,  I  fear  that  the 
same,  or  similar  deceptions,  may  be  practised  now,  and 
therefore  that  the  caution  to  my  young  friends  is  not  un- 
necessary. Cultivate  an  habitual  and  conscientious  love 
of  truth;  indulge  in  no  equivocations,  no  mental  reser- 
vations. An  intention  to  deceive  constitutes  the  essence 
of  a  lie,  in  whatever  way  the  end  may  be  accomplished 
or  attempted,  whether  by  adding  to  matter-of-fact,  or 
suppressing  a  part  of  the  truth,  or  confusing  circumstan- 
ces together,  which  are  not  really  connected,  or  by  mis- 
representing the  intention  and  design.     In  all  these,  and 


REGARD    TO    TRUTH.  177 

innumerable  other  ways,  a  real  moral  falsehood  may  be 
told  in  the  literal  words  of  truth ;  but  remember  "the 
Lord  looketh  on  the  heart,"  and  the  intention  to  mislead 
or  deceive  is  clearly  perceived,  and  intolerably  odious  in 
the  sight  of  Him  whose  eyes  are  as  a  flame  of  fire,  pene- 
trating the  inmost  recesses  of  the  heart,  and  who  is  at  once 
the  Lord  God  Omniscient,  and  the  Lord  God  of  Truth. 

The  subject  to  which  I  have  alluded  is  perhaps  espe- 
cially a  snare  of  school-girls  ;  for  such  evasions  would 
hardly  be  thought  of,  except  where  several  are  assem- 
bled together,  and  put  one  another  up  to  evil.  Girls  at 
home,  however,  will  feel  conscious  of  being  often  tempt- 
ed to  accept  praise  which  did  not  belong  to  them  ;  or  of, 
in  some  way  or  other,  suffering  a  thing  to  be  supposed 
which  was  not  correct ;  or  of  giving  an  evasive  answer 
to  a  question  directed  at  something  which  they  wished 
to  keep  concealed.  In  whatever  way  these  hints  may 
be  applicable,  I  hope  conscience  will  appropriate  and 
improve  them. 

This  reminds  me  of  a  circumstance  which  my  young 
friends  desired  should  be  recorded.  (See  Introduction, 
p.  5.)  One  night  our  school-room  was  broken  into  : 
the  English  teacher,  who  with  several  of  the  young  la- 
dies slept  over  the  school-room,  distinctly  heard  the 
thieves  break  in  at  a  window,  and  ransack  the  closets. 
As  the  school-room  door  opening  into  the  house  was 
very  securely  locked  and  barred  outside,  she  hoped  they 
might  not  get  any  farther  access  to  the  house,  and 
thought  it  was  better  to  let  them  decamp  with  what  they 
could  find  in  the  school-room,  which  she  knew  could  not 
be  of  any  great  value,  rather  than  to  disturb  the  esta- 
blishment, which  consisted  entirely  of  females,  or  to  pro- 
voke the  thieves  to  farther  violence  by  any  attempt  at 
resistance,  which  she  knew  would  be  in  vain.     She 


178  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

therefore  lai(T  quite  still,  but  anxiously  listening.  At 
length  she  heard  them  sawing  the  door :  she  then  jump- 
ed up,  opened  a  door  at  the  foot  of  the  second  staircase, 
sprang  a  rattle,  and  called  out  very  loudly,  —  "John, 
get  up  directly,  and  call  your  master  to  bring  his  pistols, 
for  there  are  thieves  in  the  house."  This  stratagem 
completely  succeeded :  the  thieves,  concluding  that  there 
were  at  least  two  men  in  the  house,  hastily  decamped, 
dropping  most  of  their  booty  in  the  play-ground  and  an 
adjoining  field.  The  teacher  was  highly  applauded  in 
almost  every  company  where  the  affair  was  mentioned, 
and  in  the  public  newspapers,  for  extraordinary  prompti- 
tude and  presence  of  mind  ;  but  somehow  it  left  an  im- 
pression that,  however  successful  the  stratagem,  it  was 
an  infringement  on  truth  that  could  not  be  justified ;  — 
at  least,  it  was  always  present  to  my  mind,  that  if  it  suits 
Miss  L.'s  purpose  to  make  us  think  things  are  different 
from  what  they  are,  she  will  not  hesitate  to  do  it  so  long 
as  she  does  not  tell  a  falsehood  in  words.  I  could  nev- 
er afterwards  rely  so  implicitly  on  her  representations  as 
I  could  on  those  of  my  governess. 

There  are  other  temptations  peculiarly  belonging  to 
school-girls,  on  which  I  would  drop  a  word  or  two.  A 
lavish  supply  of  pocket-money  is  that  which  most  girls 
covet ;  and  which  the  indulgence  of  parents  and  friends 
is  too  apt  to  supply,  as  a  kind  of  substitute  for  the  indul- 
gences of  home.  We  are  told  in  Scripture  that  the  love 
of  money  is  the  root  of  all  evil ;  and  it  is  often  seen  that 
the  possession  of  money  is  the  source  of  much  evil.  If 
there  is  in  the  school  an  artful  girl,  she  is  sure  to  worm 
herself  into  the  friendship  of  the  girl  of  large  possessions, 
and  in  some  way  or  other,  to  make  her  a  dupe  ;  very 
probably  to  bring  her  into  schemes  of  mischief,  of  which 
she  might  otherwise  have  remained  in  happy  ignorance. 


STORY    OP   MISS    J.  179 

If  there  were  no  other  evils  resulting  from  too  great  a 
supply  of  pocket-money,  as  it  facilitates  the  attainment, 
so  it  fosters  the  love  of  pleasure,  and  encourages  a  sort 
of  dissipatad  habit,  which  is  ever  found  an  enemy  to  ap- 
plication and  improvement.  In  any  class  of  students,  it 
rarely  occurs  that  the  most  wealthy  are  those  who  dis- 
tinguish themselves  by  industry  and  acquirements.  I 
well  recollect  an  instance  of  a  young  lady  whose  resour- 
ces were  the  most  abundant  of  any  girl  in  the  school. 
She  was  by  no  means  destitute  of  natural  abilities  or 
amiable  disposition.  Had  she  applied  herself  to  learn- 
ing, she  might  have  competed  with  any  of  her  compan- 
ions. Had  she  not  been  exposed  to  this  peculiar  temp- 
tation, she  would  have  found  application  and  subordina- 
tion as  easy  to  her  as  the  rest ;  but  money  was  her  bane. 
She  was  flattered  and  caressed  by  the  mean  and  selfish. 
Her  indolence  and  love  of  pleasure  were  encouraged  by 
her  having  at  command  the  services  of  two  or  three  mer- 
cenary and  plodding  hirelings,  who,  for  the  sweepings 
of  her  profusion,  were  always  ready  to  compose  a  theme, 
write  a  French  exercise,  prepare  a  sum,  or  do  any  thing 
which  could  possibly  be  done  by  deputy.  Such  tricks 
may  pass  awhile  undetected ;  but  improvement  cannot 
be  obtained  by  proxy;  and  in  spite  of  all  the  pains  be- 
stowed on  her,  Miss  J.  never  could  reach  beyond  the 
middle  of  the  second  class.  A  very  artful  day-scholar, 
too,  (who  was  afterwards  detected  and  expelled,)  ingra- 
tiated herself  with  this  child  of  fortune,  and  was  con- 
tinually employed  with  commissions  to  make  lavish  and 
unallowed  purchases ;  thus  all  her  intimacies  and  pur- 
suits were  of  an  unprofitable  and  injurious  character,  her 
education  was  neglected,  and  her  principles  weakened. 
Her  fond  parents  were  disappointed,  and  she  finally 


K¥  TH  E    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

brought  distress  on  them  and  on  herself,  by  an  unsuita- 
ble marriage  with  a  mercenary  and  unprincipled  indivi- 
dual. The  point,  then,  of  caution  to  parents  is,  to  be- 
ware of  affording  too  large  a  supply,  and  to  children,  to 
guard  against  a  lavish  expenditure  of  pocket-money. 

It  is  exceedingly  important  early  in  life  to  acquire  fixed 
principles  as  to  the  disposal  of  property.  It  is  better  for 
young  persons  to  know  the  price  of  the  little  articles  they 
use  for  their  play  or  their  fancy  work,  than  to  be  sup- 
plied with  what  they  want  without  any  idea  of  the  cost. 
It  is  a  little  profitable  exercise  of  economy,  prudence, 
and  resolution,  if  they  wish  to  procure  more  than  the 
amount  of  one  week's  money  will  supply,  to  wait  for  the 
produce  of  two  or  three.  Arithmetic  is  a  most  valuable 
acquirement.  Cultivate  it,  my  dear  young  friends,  and 
apply  it  to  practical  use.  Do  habituate  yourselves  to  keep 
a  regular  account  of  your  little  resources  and  expenses. 
Distribute  your  little  income  into  several  allotments,  and 
suffer  not  one  to  entrench  upon  another.  Keeping  a 
written  account  will  be  of  great  use  to  you  in  restraining 
needless  expenses.  When  about  to  open  your  purse  im- 
prudently, you  will  sometimes  be  happily  checked  by  con- 
sidering how  you  shall  like  to  see  such  an  entry  in  your 
book.  My  father,  in  his  youth,  was  placed  in  the  house  of 
a  wealthy  but  uneducated  merchant ;  and  was  employed 
in  keeping  all  his  cash  accounts,  including  those  of  his 
private  purse,  which  he  chose  to  have  regularly  balanced 
every  week.  Most  weeks  the  rough  memorandum 
handed  to  the  youth  contained  one  item  which  he  could 
not  understand,  —  " Dono  —  so  much."  At  length,  sup- 
posing it  to  be  some  phrase  in  book-keeping  which  he 
ought  to  understand,  he  ventured  to  ask  an  explanation 
of  the  word.     "What  does  it  mean?"  replied  his  mas- 


PRUDENT    DISPOSAL    OF    PROPERTY.  181 

ter ;  "  Why,  it  means  either  that  I  have  forgotten  what 
I  spent  the  money  upon,  or  else  I  do  not  choose  to  have 
it  known  and  set  down  ;  and  so  I  say,  4  Don't  know.' " 
If  young  ladies,  who  squander  their  money  without  keep- 
ing any  account,  would  but  begin  to  do  it  regularly,  even 
with  this  qualification,  I  do  think  the  frequent  appear- 
ance in  their  account-book  of  the  ugly  word  "  Do-no," 
would  shame  or  frighten  them  from  many  needless  ex- 
penses. By  keeping  an  account,  you  will  be  able  to 
look  back,  and  trace  in  the  excess  of  last  week  or  month, 
the  cause  of  straitness  in  the  present,  and  know  how  to 
retrieve  for  the  future.  You  will  know  what  you  can 
afford,  and  what  you  can  not ;  and  this  very  simple  kind 
of  knowledge  will,  of  itself,  go  far  in  checking  desires  af- 
ter things  beyond  your  reach.  I  hope  you  will  consider 
even  the  small  sums  now  placed  at  your  disposal,  as  tal- 
ents entrusted  to  you,  for  which  you  must  be  responsible 
to  the  Giver  of  all.  This  conviction,  habitually  cherish- 
ed, will  guard  you  from  squandering  your  money  upon 
folly  and  vanity ;  and  will  teach  you,  among  your  inno- 
cent gratifications,  not  to  overlook  the  exalted  pleasure 
of  doing  good  to  your  fellow- creatures,  both  as  to  their 
bodies  and  their  souls.  I  need  not  tell  you,  for  I  hope 
you  know  it  by  experience,  that  it  is  an  unspeakable 
honour  to  be  employed  in  promoting  the  cause  of  God, 
and  ministering  to  the  happiness  of  men,  and  that  the 
most  pure  and  exalted  pleasures  are  not  connected  with 
self-indulgence,  but  with  self-control  and  benevolence. 

I  am  far  from  wishing  to  recommend  or  encourage  a 
parsimonious  disposition,  or  mere  love  of  accumulation ; 
yet  I  think  a  prudent  desire  to  spare  something  from 
present  income  for  future  advantage,  is  very  commend- 
able and  beneficial.  In  each  weekly,  monthly,  or  yearly 
16 


182  THE     GIRL'S     BOOK. 

allotment  of  income,  some  little  surplus,  however  small, 
should  be  retained  for  unforseen  calls,  whether  personal 
or  relative.     It  is  very  pleasant  to  have  a  little  store  to 
which  to  resort  in  case  of  wishing  to  obtain  a  valuable 
book,  to  make  a  handsome  present  to  a  beloved  friend, 
or  to  come  forward  liberally  to  meet  some  extraordinary 
call  for  public  usefulness.     Such  pleasure  is  not  the  lot 
of  those  who  squander  their  income  on  selfish  gratifica- 
tions.   However  much  they  may  receive,  they  are  always 
poor.     Two  cousins,  at  the  age  often  years,  were  pre- 
sented by  their  grandmother  with  ten  guineas  each,  with 
an  injunction  to  the  parents  of  each,  that  the  children 
might  be  permitted  to  dispose  of  it  as  they  pleased.  One  of 
the  little  girls  having  been  accustomed  to  see  her  mother 
wearing  expensive  ornaments,  quickly  decided  upon  the 
purchase  of  a  necklace,  bracelets,  and  ear-rings  to  cor- 
respond.    The  judgement  of  several  visiting  friends  was 
consulted ;  one  pronounced  them  "  the  most  beautiful 
that  ever  eyes  beheld ;"  another  considered  them  "  very 
cheap  ;"  a  third  declared  that  the  little  girl,  when  dressed 
in  them,  "  looked  like  an  angel ;"  but  a  fourth  irremedi- 
ably offended  both  mother  and  daughter,  by  observing 
that "  the  child  looked  far  more  like  a  tragedy  queen ;  and 
that  she  considered  those  tawdry  ornaments  utterly  in- 
consistent with  the  simplicity  of  childhood."     However, 
Isabella  was  permitted  to  strut  about  in  them,  and  ima- 
gine herself  elevated  far  above  her  companions  in  less 
splendid  attire  ;  but  the  pleasure  and  the  admiration  were 
but  shortlived ;  in  a  very  few  years,  these  trinkets  had 
become,  to  adopt  the  young  lady's  own  phrase,  "  so 
odiously  old-fashioned,  it  was  utterly  impossible  to  wear 
them."     They  were  changed  away,  with  a  heap  of  other 
ornaments  that  had  fallen  under  the  same  ban ;  they 


THE    TWO    COUSINS.  183 

formed  a  trifling  part  of  the  purchase  of  others  more 
congenial  to  the  modern  taste  of  the  young  lady,  and 
her  grandmamma's  present  was  forgotten. 

The  present  received  by  her  cousin  was  also,  in  a 
sense,  forgotten,  but  very  differently.     Those  who  are 
most  accustomed  to  a  prudent  and  economical  applica- 
tion of  money  to  its  real  uses,  are  least  inclined  to  be  de- 
lighted in  the  possession  of  it  for  its  own  sake.     Such 
was  the  case  with  Mary,  the  cousin  of  Isabella.     From 
example  and  habit  she  had  learnt  to  bring  her  personal 
requirements  within  a  very  small  compass,  and,  by  a  ju- 
dicious allotment  of  her  weekly  resources,   she  found 
them  sufficient  for  the  purposes  of  friendship  and  benevo- 
lence.    She,  therefore,  with  much  quiet  self-possession, 
said,  on  receiving  the  money,  "  It  is  very  kind  of  grand- 
mamma to  make  me  this  present,  and  it  may  be  very  use- 
ful to  me  at  some  time  or  other,  but  I  do  not  want  it 
now.     Will  you  be  so  kind  as  to  take  care  of  it  for  me, 
papa?'      Papa  undertook  the  charge  ;  and  gave  his  lit- 
tle girl  a  written  acknowlegement  for  the  sum,  which 
he  desired  her  carefully  to  preserve,  and  to  produce  it 
at  any  time  when  she  might  wish  to  make  use  of  a  part 
or  all  of  the  money.     The  note  was  laid  by  in  her  little 
bureau,  and  the  transaction  scarcely  ever  recollected. 
About  fourteen  years  afterwards,  Mary  was  likely  to  be 
married.     The  same  prudence  in  expenditure  which  was 
seen  in  the  little  girl  often  years  old,  marked  the  arrange- 
ments of  the  young  woman  of  twenty-four.    All  her  pur- 
chases, whether  of  clothing  or  furniture,   were  made 
with  a  due  regard  to  mod^ation,  propriety,  utility,  and 
durability.     Her  own  little  library,  the  careful  gathering 
of  many  years,  and  that  of  her  intended,  formed  a  se- 
lect and  valuable,  though  not  very  extensive  collection. 


184 


THE     GIRL'S     BOOK. 


There  was,  however,  one  class  of  books  which  the  young 
people,  each  having  access  to  a  father's  more  extensive 
library,  had  not  procured  for  themselves.  "  We  shall  want 
a  good  Commentary  on  the  Holy  Scriptures,"  observed 
the  friend  of  Mary.  "  Yes,"  she  replied  ;  "  and  "  the 
bright  recollection  starting  at  that  moment  into  her  mind, 
"  I  will  buy  one  with  my  grandmother's  ten  guineas." 
The  note  was  produced,  and  the  father  applied  to,  and 
consulted  as  to  the  Commentary  to  be  chosen.  "  You 
may  have  several,  if  you  please,  for  your  money  has  just 
become  double  the  sum  you  originally  put  into  my  hands. 
Use  it  as  discreetly  as  you  have  kept  it ;  and  it  will  put 
you  in  possession  of  a  valuable  stock  of  information  in 
the  various  departments  of  biblical  learning.  Then,  in- 
deed, was  the  grandmother's  gift  remembered  with  gra- 
titude, and  applied  to  the  purchase  of  that  which  may 
prove  a  blessing  to  children's  children.  There  can  be 
nothing  farther  from  my  wishes,  than  to  instil  the  love  of 
money  for  its  own  sake  ;  but  I  am  sure  that  economy  is 
the  parent  of  liberality,  as  well  as  of  comfort. 

"  Spare  not,  nor  spend  too  much ;  be  this  your  care  — 
Spare  but  to  spend,  and  only  spend  to  spare." 

I  remember  reading  of  a  gentleman  who  wished  to 
make  a  present  to  his  new-born  nephew ;  he  had  not 
much  to  spare,  but  was  desirous  of  turning  it  to  the  best 
account.  Several  projects  suggested  themselves  to  his 
mind,  but  at  last  he  resolved  to  purchase  a  strip  of  waste 
land,  which  he  obtained  for  a  mere  trifle.  By  his  own 
labour,  (for  he  was  an  earl j  riser,  and  on  any  special 
occasion  contrived  to  add  an  hour  or  two  to  the  working 
hours  of  the  day,)  he  dug  the  land  ;  planted  it  with  a  thou- 
sand poplar  twigs ;  kept  the  ground  clean  and  watered  t 


INSTABILITY   OF  WORLDLY  POSSESSIONS.  185 

and  replaced  any  that  failed  to  strike.  After  the  first 
year  or  two  no  attention  was  required  :  and  when  his  ne- 
phew attained  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  the  trees 
were  felled,  and  sold  at  one  guinea  each,  with  which  sum 
the  young  man  was  set  up  in  a  profitable  business.  Thus 
his  provision  for  life  might  be  traced  to  an  act  of  prudent 
forethought  on  the  part  of  a  kind  and  judicious  friend. 
If  every  one  were  thus  prudent  and  managing,  what 
sums  might  be  raised  by  similar  expedients,  for  the  com- 
fort of  families,  or  for  the  support  of  benevolent  and  re- 
ligious institutions  !  "  By  time  and  patience,"  says  the 
Chinese  proverb,  "the  mulberry  leaf  becomes  satin." 
Who,  that  wished  for  a  rich  satin  dress,  (if  previously 
unacquainted  with  the  fact,)  would  think  of  applying  to  a 
poor  little  insignificant  worm  to  procure  hi  and  who  is 
there  that  duly  considers  the  great  results  which  often 
proceed  from  small  beginnings,  and  the  ingenious  ways 
that  may  be  devised  for  extending  the  means  of  useful- 
ness and  enjoyment  1 

My  dear  young  friends,  I  cannot  refrain  from  offering 
a  remark  on  the  instability  of  worldly  possessions,  and 
the  frequent  reverses  in  fortune  that  take  place  in  fa- 
milies. I  sometimes  recall  to  my  recollection  the  com- 
panions of  my  childhood,  and  reckon  that  perhaps,  first 
and  last,  I  was  at  school  with  upwards  of  sixty  young 
ladies.  Were  it  possible  to  trace  their  various  histories, 
how  few,  perhaps,  of  those  who  survive  would  be  found 
exactly  in  the  situation,  as  to  worldly  circumstances, 
which  their  family  connexions  then  indicated  1  In  many 
instances,  I  know  of  very  iflPboked-for  changes.  Meet- 
ing with  my  governess  after  the  lapse  of  a  few  years,  I 
naturally  inquired  after  my  former  companions,  and  her 
answers  have  generally  conveyed  to  my  mind  some  strik- 
16* 


186  THE    G  I  R  L  rS    B  O  OE» 

ing  impression  of  the  vast  importance  that  young  persons 
should  improve  their  advantages,  and  should  acquire 
such  habits  as  will  fit  them  for  a  change  of  circumstances* 
I  recollect  a  little  girl  from  India,  who  brought  a  chest 
so  large  that  it  could  scarcely  be  taken  in  at  the  door* 
It  contained  a  hundred  muslin  frocks,  and  a  general 
wardrobe  of  corresponding  extent,  and  all  made  of  one 
size.  Her  silly  pride  of  possession  was  exceedingly 
mortified  that  she  was  not  permitted  to  display  all  these 
stores  in  disparaging  comparison  with  our  scantier,  but 
sufficient  wardrobes.  Our  governess  merely  took  out 
what  she  considered  necessary  for  present  use,  and  con- 
signed the  cumbrous  remainder  to  temporary  oblivion. 
This  poor  child,  too,  had  been  fanned,  and  carried  about* 
and  waited  on  by  slaves,,  and  she  fancied  it  a  most  cruel 
degradation  when  required  to  make  her  own  bed,  mend 
and  fold  up  her  clothes,  and  fetch  whatever  she  wanted 
for  her  use.  Time  in  some  degree  reconciled  her  to* 
her  condition  ;  but  still  her  chief  pleasure  seemed  to  con- 
sist in  reverting  to  past,  or  anticipating  future  scenes  of 
Eastern  magniftcence.  These  sentiments  and  feelings 
were  strengthened  by  an  occasional  visit  to  her  English* 
guardian,  or  by  the  lavish  presents  of  East  India  cap- 
tains, who  sometimes  called  on  her.  On  my  inquiring 
@f  Mrs.  P.  whether  Miss  M-  returned  to  India  when  she 
had  finished  her  education,, —  "  No,"  she  replied,  "  poor 
Miss  M.  has  experienced  a  most  unlooked-for  reverse  of 
circumstances.  Her  mother  was  a  woman  of  India,  and 
her  father  having  recently  married  an  European  lady,, 
has  sent  a  remittance  of  a  few  hundred  pounds,  with  di- 
rections that  Maria  should  have  any  farther  instructions 
that  might-  be  necessary  to  qualify  her  for  the  office  of 
teacher  in  as  school,  or  governess  hi  a  private  family,  and 


INSTABILITY  OF  WORLDLY  POSSESSION*.  J87 

that  henceforth  she  must  rely  on  her  own  exertions  for 
support.  About  this  time,"  continued  Mrs.  P.,  "  her 
English  guardian  died,  and  those  into  whose  hands  the 
commission  came,  removed  her  from  my  establishment, 
and  placed  her  in  a  fashionable  school  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  London.  She  never  applied  herself  sufficiently 
to  be  competent  for  teaching ;  and  after  several  unsuc- 
cessful engagements,  her  money  being  exhausted,  she 
was  glad  to  become  companion  to  a  lady.  Poor  girl! 
she  who  thought  it  a  hardship  to  put  on  her  own  clothes, 
has  now  to  wait  upon  another.  Glad  should  I  be  to 
hope  that  her  reverses  had  been  made  a  blessing  to  her ; 
and  that  she  learns  in  a  humble  station  to  be  content, 
which  the  proud  never  learn  in  the  midst  of  their  great- 
ness." 

"  And  the  Miss  D 's  :  they  were  very  amiable 

and  accomplished  girls.  Do  you  know,  ma'amrwhat  has 
become  of  them?" 

"  Yes,  my  dear  mr  they,  too,  have  experienced  reverses 
in  fortune.  Their  father,  who  was  supposed  to  be  one 
of  the  richest  merchants  in  London,  suddenly  failed,  and 
the  family  was  plunged  at  once  from  affluence  to  poverty* 
foor  Mr.  D.  died  soon  afterwards?  and  left  his  widow 
and  daughters  entirely  destitute.  They,  however,  had 
not  merely  commanded  homage  by  their  affluence,  but 
had  deserved  respect  by  their  excellence.  Hence  they 
have  never  lost  their  rank  in  society,  but  are  highly  res- 
pected and  countenanced  by  those  who  knew  them  in  the 
days  of  their  prosperity.  With  true  dignity  and  humility 
the  young  ladies,  whom-  you  had  justly  reckoned  accom- 
plished, have  turned  their  accomplishments  to  real  and 
important  use.  The  eldest  daughter  is  highly  esteemed 
as  governess  in  a  family  of  distinction ;  the1  two  others 


188  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

have  profitable  engagements  as  daily  governesses,  and 
employ  their  leisure  hours  in  drawing,  for  which  they  ob- 
tain a  liberal  remuneration  ;  and  by  their  united  efforts, 
the  three  young  ladies  have  the  happiness  of  supporting 
their  excellent  mother  in  comfort  and  respectability,  and 
enjoying  the  benefit  of  her  society  and  example." 

My  governess's  narrative  reminded  me  of  an  affecting 
record  on  the  wall  of  a  cell  in  the  Tower  of  London  :  — 
"  The  most  unhappy  man  is  he  that  is  not  patient  in  ad- 
versities ;  for  men  are  not  killed  with  the  adversities  they 
have,  but  with  the  impatience  with  which  they  suffer. 
Charles  Baily,  10th  Sep.  1571.  Mt.  29." 

Another  of  my  school-fellows,  who  married  a  respect- 
able tradesman,  was  in  early  life  left  a  widow,  with  five  or 
six  young  children.  Having  made  herself  occasionally 
useful  in  the  business  during  her  husband's  life-time,  es- 
pecially in  keeping  the  books,  (mark  again,  my  young 
friends,  the  value  of  arithmetic,)  she  had  acquired  some 
knowledge  of  its  general  principles  and  practical  details. 
She  nobly  roused  herself  from  yielding  to  the  pressure 
of  her  calamity ;  and,  relying  on  the  aid  of  Him  whom 
she  happily  knew  as  the  God  of  the  fatherless  and  the 
widow,  she  resolved  to  make  an  effort  on  behalf  of  her 
children.  She  applied  herself  with  assiduity  to  the  busi- 
ness, and  conducted  it  in  such  a  way  as  to  gain  the  full 
confidence  of  the  wholesale  dealers,  the  approbation  of 
the  customers,  and  a  maintenance  for  her  family ;  every 
one  of  whom  has  been  well  educated  and  respectably 
provided  for. 

I  must  mention  one  instance  more  of  the  mutability  of  hu- 
man affairs.  A  young  person  who  was  first  a  half-boarder, 
and  afterwards  an  assistant  teacher,  remained  with  my 
governess  till  her  death,  and  then  joined  another  teacher 


THE    TE  A  CHER.  189 

in  conducting  the  school.  After  some  years,  she 
was  married  to  an  elderly  gentleman  of  large  property. 
This  connexion  placed  her  in  a  situation  in  life  far  above 
her  early  expectations.  Her  residence  was  in  one  of  the 
squares  at  the  west  end  of  the  town  ;  an  elegant  carriage, 
and  numerous  servants,  were  at  her  command,  and  the 
means  of  gratifying  her  most  enlarged  and  liberal  wishes. 
She  bore  her  elevation  well :  her  manners  were  mild, 
dignified  and  unassuming  ;  her  personal  expenses  mode- 
rate, and  the  pleasures  of  benevolence  her  chief  luxury. 
Happy  are  those  who  are  not  unduly  elated  by  prosperity  ; 
they  are  best  fitted  to  descend  with  composure  and  re- 
signation into  the  vale  of  adversity,  should  such  be  their 
future  allotment.  After  living  ten  or  twelve  years  in 
splendour,  it  was  the  lot  of  this  excellent  woman  to  return 
to  comparative  obscurity  and  straitness.  Her  husband 
died,  after  a  very  short  illness,  which  afforded  no  oppor- 
tunity for  the  arrangement  of  his  worldly  concerns,  which 
he  had,  during  health  and  activity,  unwisely  deferred  from 
day  to  day.  Various  perplexing  law-suits  were  encoun- 
tered, in  the  settlement  of  his  affairs,  and  such  great 
losses  were  sustained  from  various  unforeseen  disasters, 
that  she  was  left  in  comparative  destitution,  except  in 
the  resources  of  a  pious,  contented,  and  cultivated  mind. 
From  such  vicissitudes,  learn,  my  young  friends,  to 
avoid  the  contemptible  vanity  and  presumption  that  would 
boast  of  present  dignity  and  possessions,  of  which  a  few 
days  may  deprive  you.  Avoid  fancied  wants  and  ex- 
travagant indulgences,  which  a  change  of  circumstances 
might  render  inconvenient  and  unattainable ;  and  culti- 
vate habits  of  diligence,  moderation,  and  piety,  which 
will  best  enable  you  to  accommodate  yourselves  to  any 
change  that  may  await  you ;  and  to  improve  by  alL 


190 


THE    GIRL'S     BOOK 


I  would  not  make  my  chapter  of  sundries  tedious,  but 
I  have  yet  a  few  particulars  on  which  to  touch.  Let  me 
recommend  a  spirit  of  contentment.  Do  not  emulate 
the  appearance  and  expenses  of  those  in  higher  life  ;  the 
outward  distinctions  which  you  are  too  apt  to  admire 
and  covet,  do  little  to  promote  the  happiness  of  those  % 
who  possess  them,  and  you  may  be  very  happy  without 
them.  Happiness  will  be  promoted,  not  by  your  as- 
piring to  a  higher  lot,  but  by  your  diligently  improving 
the  circumstances  of  your  own.  Before  you  suffer  the 
vagaries  of  your  mind  to  go  hunting  after  the  costly 
dress,  or  the  splendid  equipage,  or  the  liberal  resources, 
or  the  high-sounding  titles  of  Miss  A.  or  Miss  B.,  do  look 
within,  and  around,  and  see  how  much  you  might  im- 
prove your  own  condition  by  means  quite  within  youry 
power.  There  are  so  many  unexpensive  pleasures  and 
interesting  pursuits,  that  I  question  whether  any  indi- 
vidual, intent  on  diligently  employing  his  talents  and 
opportunities,  and  improving  the  means  of  enjoyment 
within  his  own  power,  would  ever  find  time,  or  inclina- 
tion, to  envy  others.  It  is  interesting  to  mark  the  com- 
pensative goodness  of  God ;  and  did  we  constantly  and 
duly  consider  our  own  condition,  as  compared  with  that 
of  others,  or  with  our  own,  at  any  other  period  of  our 
lives,  it  would  (end  greatly  to  check  the  sinful  disposi- 
tion to  murmur.  I  recollect  a  young  lady  whose  right 
hand  was  disfigured,  being  destitute  of  three  fingers,  but 
she  was  of  a  contented,  cheerful  disposition,  and  remark- 
ably assiduous  in  her  endeavours  to  improve.  She  never 
looked  at  her  infirmity  with  sullen  mortification  and  de- 
spondency, but,  made  the  best  of  it ;  exerting  herself  to 
the  utmost  of  her  ability,  and  cheerfully  and  thankfully 
accepting  the  help  of  others  :  and  such  was  the  aptitude, 


THE    BLIND   WOMAN.  191 

that,  by  habit  and  application,  she  acquired  in  the  use  of 
her  left  hand,  and  the  thumb  and  little  finger  which  con- 
stituted the  right,  that  her  performances  in  needle-work, 
writing,  and  drawing,   would  bear  a  comparison  with 
those  of  any  of  her  companions.     I  should  think  that 
when  she  left  school  she  was  perfectly  capable  of  giving 
instruction  in  those  branches,  and  certainly  of  engaging 
in  all  the  ordinary  duties  of  female  life.     The  blind  are 
generally  endued  with  an  exquisite  quickness  of  touch 
and  hearing,  which,  in  some  measure,  compensates  for 
the  want  of  sight.     In  the  days  of  my  childhood,  my 
father's  fine  plaited  and  ruffled  shirts,  and  my  own  cam- 
bric frocks,  were  constantly  ironed  by  a  woman  who  was 
totally  blind,  and  no  person  could  surpass  her  in  this  kind 
of  work.   She  was  an  inmate  of  an  asylum  for  the  relief 
of  poor  French  refugees  and  their  descendants  ;  and,  be- 
ing an  active  woman,  was  frequently  employed  by  her  fel- 
low-inmates to  procure  their  little  errands.  On  these  occa- 
sions, though  perhaps  employed  by  eight  or  ten  different 
persons,  she  could  accurately  distinguish,  by  feeling,  the 
identical  piece  of  money  that  was  given  her  by  each,  and 
would  instantly  detect  either  base  coin,  or  articles  of  any 
kind  which  were  inferior  in  quality  to  the  price  charged. 
Both  grocers  and  linen  drapers  said  there  was  not  a  better 
judge  of  goods  came  into  their  shops  :  "  She  is  too  know- 
ing to  be  cheated,  and  too  honest  to  cheat  any  other  per- 
son," was  the  testimony  of  all  who  had  to  do  with  her. 
She  was  also  a  pattern  of  Christian  contentment  and 
cheerfulness  ;   instead  of  murmuring  at  her  privations, 
she  was  continually  speaking  of  the  goodness  of  God  to 
her.      "  Only  think,  my  dear,"  she  would  often  say, 
"  how  merciful  God  Almighty  has  been  to  me,  a  poor, 
sinful  creature,  that  when  he  saw  fit  to  take  away  my 


192  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

eye-sight,  he  gave  me  such  quickness  of  hearing,  feeling, 
and  smelling,  as  preserves  me  from  running  into  danger 
myself,  or  injuring  others,  and  enables  me  to  get  my 
living,  and  be  of  some  use  to  others."  Then  she  would 
sing  — 

"  When  all  thy  mercies,  O  my  God, 
My  rising  soul  surveys, 
Transported  with  the  view,  I'm  lost 
In  wonder,  love  and  praise." 

Or, 

"  Father,  whate'er  of  earthly  bliss 
Thy  sov'reign  will  denies  ; 
Accepted  at  thy  throne  of  grace, 
Let  this  petition  rise :  — 

"  Give  me  a  calm  and  thankful  heart, 
From  every  murmur  free ; 
The  blessings  of  thy  grace  impart, 

And  make  me  live  to  thee.  # 

"Let  the  sweet  hope,  that  thou  art  mine, 
My  life  and  death  attend  ; 
Thy  presence  through  my  journey  shine, 
And  crown  my  journey's  end." 

Among  other  hints  to  my  young  friends,  especially 
those  at  school,  I  would  remind  them  of  the  distinction 
between  generous  emulation  and  base  envy.  Be  ever 
ready  to  acknowledge  and  admire  excellence  in  another, 
even  though  it  may  seem  to  cast  your  own  character  into 
the  shade.  Endeavour  to  excel,  not  from  a  spirit  of  ri- 
valry, but  from  a  sense  of  the  value  of  excellence.  If 
you  succeed  in  attaining  distinction,  do  not  indulge  a 
spirit  of  ungenerous  triumph ;  if  you  do  not  gain  the 


EMULATION    AND    ENVY. 


is: 


highest  honours,  be  not  envious  at  those  who  obtain 
them,  and  do  not  accuse  of  injustice  those  who  award 
them ;  but  be  satisfied  with  the  consciousness  of  having 
done  your  best,  and  be  encouraged  and  stimulated  by 
the  hope  of  being  more  successful  next  time.  I  recol- 
lect, on  two  occasions,  taking  a  place  in  my  class,  when 
an  uncomfortable  feeling  within,  deprived  me  of  almost 
all  the  pleasure  of  success,  and  which,  even  now,  I 
'think  of  with  a  kind  of  self-reproach.  I  had  for  many 
months  stood  second  in  the  first  class,  for  reading  and 
spelling,  and  I  had  little  prospect  of  rising  the  one  step 
higher,  as  the  young  lady  who  maintained  that  station 
was  reckoned  almost  infallible.  Our  daily  exercise  was 
to  repeat  a  column  or  more  from  the  dictionary,  with 
spelling,  parts  of  speech,  and  signification ;  then  to  read  ; 
and  after  that  to  spell,  and  give  the  signification  of  any 
word  that  occurred  in  our  reading,  as  called  upon  by  our 
governess.  It  happened  that  we  read  about  Hector  and 
Andromache  ;  now  the  young  lady  to  whom  I  have  al- 
luded, though  in  almost  every  respect  a  very  clever  girl, 
had  no  taste  for  poetry.  In  the  course  of  the  reading 
lesson  was  an  allusion  to  Hector's  plumed  casque. 
Among  other  words,  at  the  close  of  reading,  my  govern- 
ess called  for  the  spelling  and  meaning  of  that  word. 
Miss  P.  instantly  replied,  "  c-a-s-k,  a  vessel  to  hold 
liquor."  Almost  breathless  with  astonishment  and  joy 
at  this  most  unexpected  incident,  I  uttered,  "  c-a-s-q-u-e, 
a  helmet,"  and  found  myself  placed  at  the  summit  of  my 
ambition.  But  in  an  instant  my  joy  was  clouded  when 
I  saw  the  sorrowful  countenance  of  her  whom  I  had 
supplanted.  At  the  close  of  the  exercise,  I  offered  to 
reinstate  her  in  the  station  which  she  had,  rather  thought- 
lessly than  ignorantly,  forfeited ;  but  the  offer  was  de- 
17 


194  THE     GIRL'S     BOOK. 

clined.  I  retained  my  elevation  to  the  time  of  my  leaving 
school,  but  I  forfeited  her  friendship  :  and,  though  there 
was  nothing  unfair  in  the  transaction,  I  never  took  my 
place  above  her  without  very  mingled  feelings.     The 
other  affair  was  in  a  French  class.     It  was  the  first  day 
of  my  entering  that  class,  and  of  course  I  was  placed  at 
the  bottom.     A  new  French  teacher  had  just  entered 
on  her  duties;  her  representations  and  recommendations 
had  grossly  deceived  my  governess.     She  had  under- 
taken to  teach  that  of  which  she  was  grossly  ignorant :  I 
need  not  say  she  was   soon  detected  and  dismissed. 
However,  her  ignorance  on  that  occasion  was  the  cause 
of  my  (unjust)  advancement.     We  were  reading  and 
translating  a  chapter  in  the  New  Testament.     For  the 
first  forty  verses  all  went  on  smoothly ;  but  as  the  girl 
at  the  top  of  the  class  read  the  forty-first,  a  word  occur- 
red which  she  could  not  translate  :  it  passed  the  next, 
and  the  next,  and  at  last  came  down  to  me.     It  happen- 
ed that  I  recollected  the  word,  but  thought  it  was  a  word 
that  ought  not  to  be  spoken,  and  concluded  that  that  was 
the  reason  of  its  passing  down  to  me :  I  determined, 
however,  to  make  a  bold  effort,  and  at  the  same  time 
abstain  from  pronouncing  the  obnoxious  word  ;  a  word 
occurred  to  my  recollection  of  a  diametrically  opposite 
meaning,  which,  hit  or  miss,  I  ventured.     "  Ah,"  said 
the  sagacious  teacher,  "  take  your  place,  my  dear ;  are 
you  not  ashamed,  you  great  girls,  to  give  place  to  a  little 
thing  like  this  1  "     Forthwith  I  was  handed  to  a  dis- 
tinction which  I  felt  conscious  I  little  deserved,  and 
which  I  need  hardly  say  was  embittered  by  this  con- 
sciousness.     I   mention  these  trifling  circumstances, 
simply  for  the  sake  of  urging  on  my  young  friends  to 
seek  excellence  rather  than  eminence,  and  to  be  careful 


PRIDE    OF    CONNEXION.  195 

that  every  distinction  they  enjoy  is  sweetened  by  a  con- 
sciousness of  having  honourably  earned  it* 

*  We  believe,  that  in  this  country,  the  system  of  rewards,  for- 
feits, and  honorary  distinctions,  for  the  sake  of  exciting  emula- 
tion, is  fast  going  into  disuse.  There  are  few  schools,  now,  com- 
paratively, where  the  practice  is  continued  of  having  a  "head"  to 
classes,  for  this  purpose.  The  instances  here  cited,  strikingly  il- 
lustrate the  true  operation  of  the  system.  The  author  of  this  book, 
and  her  friend,  Miss  P.,  were  under  a  strong  stimulus  to  exertion, 
but  for  what  ?  for  their  own  improvement  ?  for  progress  in  know- 
ledge ?  or  was  it  to  attain  the  post  of  honour  ?  Some  may  think 
that  both  motives  had  their  influence.  Perhaps  they  did.  But  if 
so,  the  desire  to  stand  at  the  "  summit  of"  their  "  ambition,"  must 
have  gained  a  most  undesirable  ascendency.  Else  the  two  young 
ladies  would  not  have  had  their  friendship  broken,  and  their  future 
intercourse  embittered,  by  the  mere  circumstance  of  exchanging 
their  places  at  the  head  of  the  class. 

We  fear  that  in  such  cases  generally,  the  great  and  controlling 
motive,  is  to  be  found  in  the  spirit  of  rivalry.  It  is  very  possible, 
that  better  motives  may  act  at  the  same  time  upon  the  heart  of  the 
competitors  ;  but  it  is  not  because  this  system,  as  ordinarily  pur- 
sued, is  calculated  to  encourage  them.  Our  author  might  have  had 
paramount  in  her  mind,  and  in  their  due  proportion,  the  desire  for 
her  own  improvement,  to  gratify  and  requite  her  parents,  to  secure 
the  approbation  of  her  own  conscience,  to  fit  herself  to  be  useful 
in  life,  and  above  all,  to  please  God.  But  she  was  indebted,  we 
believe,  to  other  influences  for  these  motives,  than  to  those  natural- 
ly resulting  from  this  system. 

We  are  glad  to  find  that  the  author  has  seen  and  felt  its  evil 
tendencies,  and  has  endeavoured  to  guard  against  them.  We 
cannot,  however,  but  think,  that  the  whole  system  is  fraught  with 
too  much  of  evil  and  danger  to  the  moral  feelings,  to  be  overbal- 
anced by  any  advantage  likely  to  be  gained  from  its  additional 
spur  to  diligence  and  application. 

Besides,  it  seems  to  us,  that  the  true  motives  to  action  to  be  held 
forth  for  the  young  and  for  all,  are  such  only  as  the  Bible  supplies. 
It  is  true,  God's  government  is  a  government  of  punishments  and 
rewards.    But  then,  the  punishments  and  rewards  are  so  adminis- 


196  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

Among  the  errors  which  I  ought  to  caution  my  young 
friends,  especially  those  at  school,  is  a  foolish  pride  of 
connexions.     Who  that  has  been  accustomed  to  hear  a 
set  of  school-girls  chatter,  has  not  often  heard  the  vain, 
and  sometimes  unfounded  boast,  about  the  wealth  and 
dignity  of  their  parents,  uncles  and  aunts,  the  number  of 
servants  they  keep,  and  their  utter  distinction  from  all 
connexion  with  labouring  people  ?     Such  boasts,  instead 
of  ensuring  the  respect  and  homage  at  which  they  aim, 
only  excite  feelings  of  pity  or  contempt.     And  suppose 
it  is  true,  my  dear  young  friends,  that  you  can  number 
among  your  connexions  the  rich,  and  great,  and  noble, 
of  the  earth ;  to  whom  are  you  indebted  for  this  distinc- 
tion 1     Is  it  owing  to  any  merit,  or  skill,  or  sagacity  of 
your  own  1     Was  it  even  a  matter  of  choice  to  yourself, 
whether  you  should  be  born  in  a  hall  of  splendour,  or  in 
a  hovel  of  poverty?     "Who  maketh  thee  to  differ  from 
another  1  and  what  hast  thou  that  thou  didst  not  receive  ? 
Now,  if  thou  didst  receive  it,  why  dost  thou  glory  as  if 
thou  hadst  not  received  it?"     Let  me  remind  you,  also, 
that  these  distinctions  do  not  necesssrily  involve  either 
wisdom,  goodness,  or  respectability.     A  poor  person,  if 
he  is  wise  and  good,  may  be  respected,  beloved,  and 
useful ;  which  a  foolish  and  vicious  person,  however 
rich  and  great,  cannot  be.     So,  remember,  you  must 

tered,  as  neither  to  countenance  or  encourage,  directly  or  indirect- 
ly, any  of  the  bad  passions  of  the  heart.  And  moreover,  the  divine 
government  implies  that  there  is  one  standard,  with  which  all 
the  human  family,  in  all  possible  circumstances  and  relations  of 
life,  are  to  compare  their  conduct,  and  regulate  their  lives. 

This  system,  on  the  contrary,  seems  to  go  upon  the  principle  of 
"comparing  themselves  among  themselves,"  "which  is  not  wise." 

Ed. 


PRIDE    OF    CONNEXION. 


197 


make  a  character  for  yourself,  and  not  think  of  leaning 
on  that  which  is  wholly  independent  of  you  ;  ypu  are  in 
reality  just  what  you  would  be  if  stripped  of  all  these 
merely  external  honours. 

One  word  more.  Before  you  boast  of  your  superiority 
to  others,  in  a  lower  station  in  life,  just  think  how  help- 
less you  would  be  without  them,  and  how  much  you  lie 
at  their  mercy ;  and  before  you  boast,  consider  that  in 
reality  you  are  much  more  dependent  on  them  than  they 
are  on  you.  Suppose,  for  a  moment,  that  all  the  farmers, 
and  butchers,  and  bakers,  and  manufacturers,  and  me- 
chanics, were  to  go  out  of  the  country ;  what  would  the 
wealthy  people  do  without  them  1  Why  they  must  either 
starve,  or  themselves  become  farmers,  butchers,  bakers, 
manufacturers,  or  mechanics.  All  classes  of  society  are 
mutually  dependent  on  each  other:  "The  profit  of  the,  earth 
is  for  all,  and  the  king  himself  is  served  of  the  field."  Let 
no  one  exalt  himself  or  despise  others,  but  each  acquire 
true  honour,  by  endeavouring  faithfully  to  discharge  the 
duties  of  his  station,  and  subserve  the  welfare  of  all 
around  him.  Yice  degrades  the  most  exalted,  and  vir- 
tue ennobles  the  meanest. 

"  Female  curiosity,"  and  "  female  tattling,"  have  be- 
come almost  proverbial.  Let  my  dear  young  friends 
endeavour  to  wipe  off  this  reproach  from  their  sex :  be 
assured  these  foibles  always  indicate  littleness  of  mind. 
There  are  many  of  the  male  sex  quite  as  inquisitive  and 
as  tattling  as  the  most  vain  and  giddy  female  ;  and  there 
are  women  of  real  greatnes  and  dignity  of  mind,  who  have 
neither  time  nor  inclination  to  pry  into  the  affairs  of  their 
neighbours,  or  to  tattle  about  those  of  their  family.  Be 
it  yours  to  add  to  their  number.  In  order  to  this,  have 
your  mind  early  set  upon  what  is  really  valuable  and  im-. 
17* 


I98  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

portant,  encourage  the  thirst  after  useful  knowledge, 
which  will  set  you  above  the  mean  and  trifling  things, 
and  check  that  idle,  impertinent,  and  mischievous  curios- 
ity, which  would  be  ever  prying  into  things  that  are  not 
worth  knowing,  which  ought  not  to  be  known,  or  which 
it  does  not  concern  you  to  know.  "  There  are  two  kinds 
of  curiosity,"  says  a  celebrated  philosopher,  "  one  of 
them  arising  from  interest,  (or  rather  wisdom,  discovered 
in  its  thirst  for  knowledge,)  instigates  us  to  become  what 
may  be  useful ;  the  other  arises  from  pride,  and  makes 
us  eager  to  know  what  others  are  ignorant  of."  No 
good  can  result,  and  much  evil  may,  from  school-girls 
communicating  to  each  other  family  affairs,  with  which 
they  have  no  concern ;  and  if  no  immediate  mischief 
arises  from  their  indiscreet  communications,  the  very 
propensity  is  injurious  and  disgraceful  to  themselves  ; 
and  if  not  early  checked,  will  ripen  as  they  advance  in 
years,  into  that  most  contemptible  character,  a  family 
gossip  and  mischief-maker.  Be  it  yours,  my  dear  young 
friends,  to  cultivate  and  possess  that  lovely  characteristic 
of  a  virtuous  woman  —  "  She  openeth  her  mouth  with 
wisdom,  and  in  her  tongue  is  the  law  of  kindness." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


DRESS  AND  ADMIRATION.  — A  CONVERSATION.  —  RESPECTFUL   DEMEANOUR  TO 

PARENTS  AND   AGED   PERSONS.  —  BROTHERS  AND    SISTERS. SERVANTS. — 

SCHOOL  FRIENDSHIPS.  —  LETTER-WRITING.  —  EDUCATION  AT  HOME CON- 
DUCT TO  A  GOVERNESS.  —  SEMBLANCE  OF  VIRTUES.  —  MAGNANIMITY. — 
MAGNANIMITY  AND  MEEKNESS  COMPATIBLE. — SENSIBILITY  AND  GENTLENESS 
CONTRASTED  WITH  AFFECTATION.  —  PRESENCE  OF  MIND.  —  HOLY  SCRIP- 
TURES.—  STUDY  OF  EVIDENCES.  —  ANECDOTE  OF  HUME CLAIMS.  —  RE- 
LIGIOUS IMPRESSIONS. DO  NOT  STIFLE  OR  RESIST  THEM.  —  DO  NOT  PRO- 
CRASTINATE.—  DO  NOT  REST  IN  MERE  FEELING.  —  ENCOURAGEMENT. — 
CONSISTENCY.  —  PERSECUTION.  —  SUNDAY-SCHOOL  TEACHING. —  EDUCATION 
FINISHED. 


My  young  friends  wished  me  particularly  to  say  some- 
thing about  dress  and  admiration :  "  You  know,  Mrs. 
White,"  said  one  of  them,  "  we  must  pay  some  atten- 
tion to  dress,  and  it  is  natural  that  we  should  desire  to  be 
amiable  and  beloved  ;  but  then  there  is  such  a  danger  of 
running  into  pride  and  vanity  ;  I  wish  I  knew  exactly 
how  far  we  ought  to  go  in  these  particulars,  and  where 
we  ought  to  stop." 


20°  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

I  know  it  is  very  difficult  to  set  up  an  exact  standard, 
nor  is  it  at  all  necessary.  True  wisdom  and  self  ac- 
quaintance will  watch  and  discern  the  beginning  of  evil, 
and  even  the  tendency  to  it,  and  will  set  the  needful 
guard  and  restraint ;  but  if  we  indulge  that  which  we  per- 
ceive to  be  in  the  slightest  degree  injurious  to  ourselves, 
we  may  be  assured  that  it  is  offensive  in  the  sight  of  God, 
and  will  sooner  or  later  make  us  disagreeable  to  our  fel- 
low-creatures. Instead  of  troubling  you  with  any  grave 
remarks  of  my  own  on  so  delicate  a  subject,  permit  me 
to  relate  a  breakfast-table  conversation  which  I  happen- 
ed to  hear  the  morning  after  a  party  of  young  people  had 
been  assembled  at  the  house  of  one  of  my  friends. 

"  Well,  Mr. ,  I  think  we  had  on  the  whole  a  very 

pleasant  evening.  There  is  something  very  interesting 
in  an  assembled  group  of  young  persons." 

"  Very  much  so ;  especially  when  we  consider  the 
important  character  they  are  to  sustain  in  respect  to  the 
next  generation.  As  an  old  man,  and  an  observer  of 
human  character,  I  could  not  help  noticing  its  indications 
in  the  very  different  expression  of  countenance  and 
manner  manifested  by  ten  or  twelve  young  persons,  of 
much  the  same  rank  in  life,  and  on  whom  education, 
habit,  and  conformity  to  the  forms  of  civilized  society, 
produced  a  great  outward  similarity  of  behaviour." 

"  I  forget  whether  or  not  you  are  a  phrenologist." 

"  If  I  were,  the  abundant  tresses  of  the  young  ladies 
would  have  effectually  secured  from  observation  the  se- 
crets of  the  pericranium,  but  much  of  character  may  be 
learned  from  more  visible  indications  —  the  eye,  the  lip, 
the  hand,  the  turn  of  the  neck." 

"  0,  dear,  sir,  you  are  quite  a  physiognomist.  Do 
tell  me  which  you  think  express  the  greatest  intelligence 
—  blue  eyes,  or  dark  V9 


DRESS    AND    ADMIRATION. 


201 


"  I  really  cannot  say  ;  for  I  recollect  among  the  group 
of  last  evening,  two  pair  of  blue  eyes,  and  two  pair  of 
dark,  which  were  as  opposite  as  possible  in  expression  : 
one  pair  of  blue  eyes  expressed  coldness,  selfishness, 
and  apathy ;  the  others  were  full  of  good  humour  and 
vivacity.  But  then,  perhaps,  the  character  was  assigned 
not  merely  to  the  eye,  but  to  the  general  demeanour.;  the 
one  pair  belonged  to  a  stiff,  stately  personage,  whose  whole 
attention  seemed  to  be  engrossed  by  herself,  and  in  whom 
it  seemed  a  painful  exercise  of  condescension  even  to  ac- 
cept the  attention  of  others.  The  merry  blue-eyed  girl 
seemed  all  simplicity  and  benevolence :  she  accepted 
what  was  offered  her  with  ease  and  cheerfulness,  or  de- 
clined it  with  a  graceful  politeness,  and  seemed  naturally 
intent  on  promoting  the  gratification  and  comfort  of  oth- 
ers. You  recollect  how  well  she  explained  the  peculi- 
arities of  the  flower  to  her  two  young  companions.  And, 
I  hope  you  all  observed,  that  in  the  midst  of  a  merry 
tale  which  she  was  relating  at  the  request  of  one  of  her 
friends,  while  all  the  merry  group  were  laughing  round 
her,  she  perceived  that  her  aunt  was  suffering  from  the 
head-ache,  and  in  an  instant  suppressed  the  laughter  and 
suspended  the  tale,  without  the  least  appearance  of  effort 
or  display.  It  seemed  instinctive  to  her  to  consult  the 
feelings  of  others.  Well,  then,  one  pair  of  the  dark  eyes 
seemed  to  express  a  soft,  silly,  languishing  character. 
It  semed  as  if  the  highest  effort  of  the  young  lady's  mind 
was  to  deck  her  pretty  person,  and  to  display  her  lily 
white  hand,  as  a  full  certificate  of  freedom  from  the 
charge  of  doing  any  thing  useful ;  and  the  pretty  min- 
cing lips  could  hardly  open  themselves  wide  enough  to 
lisp,  in  answer  to  any  rational  question,  'I  am  sure  I 


202 


THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 


don't  know.'  The  other  dark  eyes  beamed  with  meek 
intelligence.  More  than  once  I  observed  them  fixed, 
with  modest  attention,  on  the  conversation  of  the  elder 
part  of  the  company,  and  sometimes  glistening  with  ani- 
mation, while  conversing  with  her  younger  companions, 
on  the  beauties  of  some  favourite  author,  or  the  excel- 
lences of  a  common  friend." 

"  Well,  that  is  very  true,  Mr. ;  you  seem  quite 

to  have  taken  the  character  of  the  young  people.  Now 
do  tell  me  what  you  thought  of  those  two  young  ladies 
who  sat  most  of  the  evening  on  the  sofa  nearly  opposite 
the  mirror." 

"  If  I  must  speak  my  mind,  I  thought  them  both  rather 
vain  and  empty,  and  carried  away  with  the  love  of  dress, 
though  in  a  different  way.  The  short  girl  seemed  to 
have  fallen  into  the  vulgar  error,  that  to  be  well  dressed 
is  to  have  heaped  upon  the  person  a  profusion  of  tawdry, 
ill-assorted  colours,  and  costly  ornaments,  without  re- 
gard to  a  congruous  and  becoming  whole.  The  taller 
young  lady  discovered  more  taste  in  the  selection  of  her 
ornaments ;  but  then  there  was  an  evident  effort  to  dis- 
play her  person  to  advantage,  and  to  attract  admiration, 
which  generally  fails  of  its  intention,  and  which  always 
excites,  in  the  minds  of  intelligent  observers,  feelings  of 
regret,  if  not  of  disgust.  There  was  one  very  lovely 
girl,  in  whose  appearance  and  manners  I  felt  particularly 
interested." 

"  Do  you  mean  Miss 1    She  wore  a  lilac  dress, 

and  lilies  in  her  hair ;  she  is  reckoned  a  very  pretty  girl, 
and  highly  accomplished." 

"  Oh  no !  she  may  be  pretty,  but  I  thought  her  by  no 
means  agreeable ;  and  as  to  her  accomplishments,  what 
are  they  worth,  if  she  is  not  willing  to  gratify  her  friends 


A    CONVERSATION.  203 

with  them?  Did  you  not  observe,  when  requested  to 
play  and  sing,  how  she  made  one  affected  excuse  after 
another ;  and  though  she  refused  to  comply  with  the 
wishes  of  her  friends,  she  was  evidently  mortified  and 
chagrined  that  she  was  not  forced  into  compliance,  and 
that  her  refusal  was  accepted,  and  another  was  called 
out  to  gratify  the  company.  The  good  tempered  blue- 
eyed  girl  played.  I  was  much  pleased  with  her  man- 
ners. There  was  no  forwardness ;  no  affected  timidi- 
ty ;  no  attempt  to  display  her  science  or  execution.  She 
seemed  entirely  to  forget  herself,  and  simply  came  for- 
ward, did  her  best  to  gratify  the  wishes  of'her  friends, 
and  then  quietly  retreated,  as  if  unconscious  of  having 
merited  their  thanks  or  praise." 

"  But  we  must  make  out  this  special  favourite  of  yours. 
Do  you  mean  a  tall,  thin  girl,  in  white  ?  or  one  with  au- 
burn hair,  dressed  in  pale  blue. 

"  I  really  cannot  describe  her  person ;  and  of  her  dress 
I  have  not  the  slightest  recollection ;  a  proof,  by  the  way, 
that  there  was  nothing  preposterous  or  glaring.  I  think 
she  was  of  the  middle  stature ;  and,  if  I  mistake  not, 
slightly  marked  with  the  small-pox.  But  it  was  the 
sweetness  and  intelligence  of  her  aspect  and  manners 
that  delighted  me,  the  modesty  and  good  sense  of  her 
remarks,  her  respectful  and  delicate  attention  to  her  mo- 
ther, and  her  kindness  to  her  little  sister,  who  seemed 
almost  too  young  to  associate  with  the  rest  of  the  party.'' 

"  I  know,  now,  who  you  mean  ;  and  I  am  happy  to 
say  you  have  not  been  deceived  by  your  first-sight  im- 
pression of  her  aspect  and  manners.  She  is  a  truly  ami- 
able and  excellent  girl ;  even  in  her  temper,  industrious 
and  steady  in  her  pursuits,  always  endeavouring  to  im- 
prove herself,  and  to  promote  the  comfort  of  others  ;  and 


204 


THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 


in  her  dress  always  neat  and  genteel,  but  never  fine  or 
extravagant ;  always  deserving  and  commanding  respect, 
but  never  seeking  admiration." 

"lam  happy  in  having  been  introduced  to  so  estima- 
ble a  young  person,  and  should  my  life  be  spared  a  few 
years,  I  hope  to  see  her  adorn  and  bless  the  domestic 
circle  with  some  worthy  partner.  Well,  there  were  two 
or  three  young  ladies  who  did  not  seem  devoid  of  intelli- 
gence or  good  nature,  but  whose  incessant  rattling  an- 
noyed the  company,  and  made  me  tremble  for  their  own 
brains.  If  brought  under  proper  discipline,  and  espe- 
cially if  they  could  be  made  aware  of  their  malady,  and 
brought  to  discipline  themselves,  I  think  these  girls  are 
not  incurable ;  but  if,  as  in  the  natural  tendency  of  things, 
they  should  go  from  bad  to  worse,  I  pity  the  poor  men 
who  shall  be  tied  to  such  mill-clacks,  and  the  families  that 
shall  be  governed  by  such  rattle-brains.  There  was  one 
young  lady  who  seemed  rather  to  affect  a  studied  singu- 
larity of  dress  and  manners.  This  I  was  sorry  to  ob- 
serve, for  affectation  is  always  odious  and  dangerous  — 
and  there  is  generally  as  much  pride  in  singularity  and 
opposition  to  innocent  and  becoming  modes  of  dress,  ac- 
cording to  our  rank  in  society,  as  there  is  in  following  to 
the  extreme  such  as  are  vain  and  foolish." 

"  Pray,  what  is  your  opinion  as  to  the  rules  of  female 
dress,  especially  as  applied  to  Christian  females  ?  You 
know  two  of  the  apostles  have  given  directions  on  this 
subject ;  and  each  says,  f  not '  with  outward  ornaments, 
but  with  '  good  works,'  '  the  ornament  of  a  meek  and 
quiet  spirit.'  See  1  Tim.  ii.  9,  10  ;  1  Pet.  iii.  3,4.  Do 
you  suppose  that  ornaments  are  altogether  excluded,  or 
only  that  they  are  to  be  regarded  as  far  inferior  to  the 
graces  of  the  mind  and  heart  I " 


A    CONVERSATION.  205 

u  Without  giving  a  direct  answer  to  that  question, 
which  would  not  be  a  very  easy  task,  I  think  the  injunc- 
tions of  these  apostles  are  much  more  decided  than  is 
generally  understood,  judging  from  the  attire  of  many 
professors  of  religion.  The  apostles  could  not  mean  less 
than  to  prohibit  in  Christian  females  a  conformity  to  the 
vain  and  fantastic  fashions  of  the  world,  which  would  in- 
dicate levity  and  frivolity  of  mind,  inconsistent  with  their 
profession  of  supreme  regard  to  the  things  of  eternity  ; 
any  thing  inconsistent  with  the  strictest  modesty  and  deli- 
cacy ;  any  thing  that  should  involve  a  needless  consump- 
tion of  time  or  property  on  empty  decorations,  which  their 
circumstances  in  life  do  not  warrant,  which  their  Chris- 
tian profession  condemns,  and  which  the  claims  of  God 
and  their  fellow-creatures  demand  for  far  nobler  purpo- 
ses ;  and  any  attempt  to  excite  or  retain  the  affections  of 
others  by  mere  attention  to  personal  decorations  and  at- 
tractions, to  the  neglect  of  the  inward  graces  of  the  mind 
and  temper.    It  certainly  may  be  expected  that  Christian 
women  should  choose  to  appear  rather  more  simple  and 
plain  in  their  attire,  than  others  of  their  own  rank.    The 
best  cure  for  the  love  of  dress  will  be  found  in  a  mind 
elevated  above  such  empty  trifles  ;  in  having  the  heart, 
the  hands,  and  the  time  engaged  in  nobler  pursuits.  The 
ornaments  of  meekness,  benevolence,  and  piety,  are  far 
more  valuable,  estimable,  and  durable,  than  the  most 
costly  robes  and  brilliant  gems  ;  and  the  most  graceful 
attire  is  simplicity." 

If  the  old  gentleman's  remarks  on  dress  and  demean- 
our, should  answer  the  inquiries,  and  rightly  direct  the 
movements  of  my  young  friends,  they  will  not  blame  me 
for  introducing  the  breakfast-table  conversation. 

I  have  sometimes   observed  among  the  failings  of 
18 


206 


THE    GIRL'S    BOOK, 


young  persons,  a  pertness  and  flippancy  of  manner,  which 
appeared  to  me  very  unamiable  ;  a  snappish  way  of  an- 
swering a  superior ;  a  harsh  or  scornful  tone  to  persons 
in  humble  life  ;  a  contemptuous  impatience  under  admo- 
nition or  reproof;  and  a  disposition  to  ridicule  any  pecu- 
liarity in  person,  dress,  or  manners.  Oh,  it  has  grieved 
me  more  than  I  can  express,  to  hear  a  rude  boy  burst 
into  a  loud  laugh  at  the  mildly-expressed,  but  mistaken 
answer  of  a  deaf  grandmother ;  or  to  see  a  dim-sighted 
mother  striving  to  thread  her  needle,  while  two  or  three 
daughters  sat  by  without  offering  to  assist  her.  But  I 
will  turn  from  the  painful  to  the  pleasing  side  of  the  pic- 
ture, and  say  I  have  felt  emotions  of  pleasure,  that  I  can- 
not describe,  in  witnessing  the  delicate  and  respectful  at- 
tention of  some  young  persons  to  their  parents ;  how 
readily  their  wishes  were  complied  with,  and  even  anti- 
cipated; with  what  reverence  their  instructions  were 
treasured  up,  and  their  cautions  regarded  ;  how  promptly 
the  supporting  arm  of  a  dutiful  daughter  was  presented 
to  sustain  the  feeble  steps  of  a  beloved  mother;  and  the 
watchfulness  and  assiduity  of  an  affectionate  girl  to  place 
for  her  venerable  father  every  little  accustomed  comfort 
within  reach,  just  at  the  proper  time  —  the  warm  slippers, 
the  loose  coat,  the  sofa  pillow,  the'footstool,  the  specta- 
cles, the  Bible.  "  Dear  young  people  !"  my  heart  has  as- 
pired, "  may  you  be  thus  respectful,  affectionate,  and  du- 
tiful to  parents,  as  in  the  Lord,  and  heirs  of  that  faithful 
promise  annexed  to  such  obedience  !"  When  these  lovely 
dispositions  exist,  it  is  almost  unnecessary  to  remind  my 
young  friends  that  they  are  to  be  exercised  towards 
others  besides  their  immediate  parents.  They  will  be 
manifested  in  a  respectful  deportment  towards  the  aged 
in  general ;  in  kindness  and  humanity  towards  the  poor 


BROTHERS    AND    SISTERS.  207 

and  dependent,  and  in  gentleness  and  sympathy  towards 
those  afflicted  with  mental  or  bodily  infirmities. 

Allow  a  hint  as  to  your  intercourse  with  brothers  and 
sisters.  Much  of  your  happiness  in  future  life  will  de- 
pend on  the  dispositions  you  cultivate  and  exercise  to- 
wards those  with  whom  you  are  now  most  intimately 
connected  on  a  footing  of  equality.  Yalue  the  precious 
hours  of  intercourse,  whether  stated  or  occasional,  under 
the  parental  roof,  and  cultivate  those  affectionate  friend- 
ships which  ought  to  endure  through  life.  When  once 
a  family  begins  to  separate  for  the  purposes  of  education, 
business,  or  family  connexion,  it  is  surprising  to  reflect 
how  little  subsequent  intercourse  can  be  calculated  upon ; 
how  very  seldom,  and  for  how  short  a  period,  all  the  mem- 
bers of  a  numerous  family  meet  together  after  the  first 
separation.  It  is,  therefore,  of  great  importance,  that 
affection  should  be  so  firmly  cemented  and  rivetted,  as 
not  to  be  unsettled  by  absence  or  distance.  Guard, 
therefore,  my  dear  young  friends,  against  whatever  would 
have  a  tendency  to  alienate.  See  that  you  neither  pro- 
voke, nor  display,  nor  resent,  those  petty  irritations  of 
temper,  from  which  the  best  and  happiest  families  are 
not  altogether  free  ;  harbour  no  mean  jealousies  about 
personal  advantages,  parental  favour,  or  general  admira- 
tion. Indulge  no  shyness,  coldness,  and  reserve  ;  no 
backwardness  to  comrrrunicate  your  little  secrets  at  home, 
and  ungenerously  to  cultivate  friendships  and  intimacies 
abroad.  Endeavour  to  bring  the  affectionate  intercourse 
of  the  family  under  the  blessed  influence  of  genuine 
piety.  Love  one  another  "  in  the  Lord."  Lay  to  heart 
each  other's  spiritual  interests.  Read  the  book  of  God 
together  ;  kneel  together  at  the  throne  of  grace  ;  take 


20S  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

sweet  counsel  together  on  the  good  things  of  Christ's 
kingdom ;  and  seek  constantly  that  sacred  influence 
which  shall  mark  you  as  heirs  together  of  the  grace  of 
life,  so  that  your  happy  parents,  or  delighted  observers 
shall  exclaim,  "  Behold,  how  good  and  how  pleasant  it 
is  for  brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity!  There  the 
Lord  hath  commanded  the  blessing,  even  life  for  ever- 
more." 

O  my  dear  young  friends,  how  richly  would  my  labour 
be  repaid,  and  how  would  my  heart  be  gladdened,  if  any 
thing  that  I  can  say  should  be  made  the  means,  under 
the  Divine  blessing,  of  inducing  you  to  seek  the  religion 
of  the  heart.  It  is  that  at  which  I  am,  and  nothing  less 
will  satisfy  me.  This  would  be  the  spring  of  whatever  is 
becoming,  lovely,  and  praiseworthy,  in  every  relation  and 
condition  in  life.  It  would  not,  however,  supersede  the 
use  of  particular  admonitions.  True  religion  inclined 
the  heart  to  duty,  but  it  is  nevertheless  necessary  that 
duty  should  be  set  before  the  understanding :  this  leads 
me  to  add  yet  another  remark  or  two  on  relative  pro- 
prieties. 

In  the  family,  be  kind  in  your  behaviour  towards  ser- 
vants. Never  indulge  in  a  scornful  domineering  man- 
ner towards  them,  but  let  your  wishes  be  expressed  with 
civility  and  mildness.  Exercise  a  humane  consideration 
towards  them  ;  do  not  unnecessarily  add  to  their  fatigues 
by  your  caprice  or  indolence.  I  knew  a  lady  who  ac- 
customed herself  to  consider  before  she  rang  the  bell, 
"  How  is  the  servant  who  should  answer  it  at  this  mo- 
ment engaged  1  Is  it  worth  while  to  interrupt  her  busi- 
ness, or  add  to  her  fatigue,  for  what  would  do  just  as 
well  an  hour  or  two  hence  when  she  is  more  at  leisure* 


SERVANTS.  209 

or  which  I  might  just  as  well  do  for  myself?"     Young 
ladies  would  do  well  thus  to  take  themselves  to  task- 
On  the  other  hand,  I  have  known  a  bell  ring,  and  fetch  a 
servant  from  the  top  to  the  bottom  of  the  house,  or  from 
her  wash-tub,  or  ironing-board,  who,  when  she  appeared 
at  the  parlour  door,  received  an  order  to  fetch  the  young 
lady's  work-bag,  or  gloves  ;  or  perhaps  the  answer,  "You 
are  not  wanted  now ;  we  have  altered  our  minds."    The 
Queen  of  George  II.  observing  that  one  of  her  daughters 
obliged  one  of  the  ladies  of  her  bedchamber  to  read  aloud 
in  a  standing  position,  and  discovered  no  consideration 
for  her  weariness  and  indisposition,  the  following  even- 
ing directed  the  young  princess  to  stand  and  read  aloud 
to  her.     After  continuing  the  unaccustomed  exercise  for 
a  considerable  time,  the  queen  applied  the  practical  re- 
proof, and  urged  on  her  daughter  the  duty  of  humanity  to 
all  around  her,  whom,  as  she  justly  reminded  her,  God 
had  made  of  the  same  blood  as  her  own,  and  liable  to  the 
same  susceptibilities  of  weariness  and  pain.     Be  not 
unreasonable  in  your  requirements  of  servants  or  work- 
people.    Some  young  ladies   delay  their  orders  to  an 
unreasonable  time,  and  then  demand  that  they  should  be 
immediately  executed ;  and  are  exceedingly  offended  if 
their  demands  are  not  complied  with.     Surely,  if  you 
act  thus,  you  have  never  learnt,  or  have  awfully  for- 
gotten the  sacred  maxim,  "  Whatsoever  ye  would  that 
men  should  do  unto  you*  do  ye  even  so  unto  them." 

While  inculcating  kindness  and  humanity  to  persons 
employed  by  you,  let  me,  however,  caution  you  against 
an  improper  familiarity  with  servants.  They  are  not  to 
be  your  chosen  companions,  the  depositaries  of  your  se- 
crets, or  the  agents  in  your  schemes  for  obtaining  unal- 
lowed indulgences*  The  young  lady  who  can  make  the, 
18* 


210 


THE     GIRL'S     BOOK. 


slightest  advance  towards  familiarity  of  this  kind,  has 
sadly  forgotten  her  duty  to  her  parents  and  herself,  and 
will,  in  all  probability,  plunge  herself  into  mischief  and 
distress. 

A  word  about  the  friendships  of  youth.  Young  per- 
sons are  ardent  in  their  attachments,  but  they  often  want 
stability.  Some  "inseparable"  and  "unchangeable" 
friendships  between  school  girls  have  not  outlived  one 
month  of  separation ;  a  proof  that  they  were  without  any 
solid  foundation.  Thrown  together  by  circumstances, 
and  perhaps  possessing  some  congeniality  of  feeling 
about  trifles,  and  some  little  community  of  interests, 
they  fancied  that  they  felt  a  strong  and  unalterable 
attachment ;  but  the  result  proves  that  there  was  no 
real  union  of  mind  and  soul.  The  mind  had  not  been 
exercised  on  those  subjects  which  give  perpetuity  to 
every  thing  with  which  they  come  in  contact.  Some 
early  friendships  are  mischievous,  as  are  all  associations 
in  evil.  If,  instead  of  "  provoking  one  another  to  love 
and  to  good  works,  these  young  companions  should  ex- 
cite and  encourage  each  other  in  what  is  wrong,  their 
friendship  will  probably  soon  be  dissolved,  but  the  ill  ef- 
fects may  remain  through  future  life.  It  may  perhaps 
be  forgotten  among  the  many  steps  which  lead  to  a  fatal 
result,  but  every  one  of  which  will  be  painfully  recalled 
another  day ;  or  it  may  be  remembered  with  deep  regret 
and  remorse  among  the  sins  and  follies  of  childhood  and 
youth,  which  become,  to  the  Christian,  a  matter  of  daily 
penitential  confession  and  supplication :  "  O  remember 
not  against  me  the  sins  of  my  youth,  nor  my  transgres- 
sions. According  to  thy  mercy,  remember  thou  me,  for 
thy  goodness'  sake,  0  Lord  !  " 

But  there  are  some  early  friendships  which  prove  truly 


SCHOOL    FRIENDSHIPS.  211 

beneficial,  and  which  are  matured  and  cemented  in  after 
life.  Such  friendships  originate  in  genuine  and  conge- 
nial excellencies  of  character,  and  are  made  subservient 
to  the  promotion  of  those  excellencies.  Changing  cir- 
cumstances do  not  destroy  or  weaken  such  genuine  at- 
tachments ;  nor  are  they  interrupted  by  the  operations  of 
any  mean  or  selfish  passions.  Genuine  friendship  ex 
pels  envy,  jealousy,  and  rivalry.  It  is  instructive  to  ob- 
serve the  progress  of  friendship  between  David  and  Jo- 
nathan. "  The  modesty,  piety,  and  courageous  faith  of 
David  were  so  congenial  to  the  character  of  Jonathan, 
that  they  at  first  attracted  his  most  cordial  esteem 
and  affection,  and  from  that  time  the  most  endeared 
friendship  subsisted  between  them,  notwithstanding  the 
knowledge  which  Jonathan  had  of  David's  destined  ele- 
vation, as  he  might  consider,  at  his  expense.  This  dis- 
interested friendship  was  the  effect  of  the  grace  of  God, 
which  produces,  in  all  true  believers,  one  heart  and  soul, 
and  causes  them  to  delight  in  each  other's  converse  and 
comfort.  Yet  similarity  of  disposition,  and  the  coinci- 
dence of  the  extraordinary  services  which,  in  the  courage 
of  faith,  they  had  performed,  served  to  render  their  reci- 
procal affection  peculiarly  fervent  and  intimate."*  The 
most  tender  and  unbroken  sympathy  and  fidelity  charac- 
terized these  amiable  friends  ;  they  took  sweet  counsel 
together,  and  strengthened  each  other's  hands  in  God, 
amidst  the  most  turbulent  and  trying  scenes  of  human 
life  :  and  the  survivor  perpetuated  the  memory  of  his  be- 
loved friend  by  the  expressions  of  genuine  grief,  and  by 
remarkable  kindness  to  his  remaining  offspring.  Such 
has  been  the  model  of  some  interesting  friendships  com- 

*  Scott. 


212 


THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 


menced  in  early  life.  Either  based  upon,  or  cemented 
by  early  piety,  similarity  of  disposition  and  pursuit 
wrought  a  growing  identity  between  the  kindred  spirits, 
favoured,  perhaps,  by  some  seemingly  smalt  coinci- 
dences ;  such  as  companionship  in  a  class,  in  a  bed- 
chamber, or  in  a  fit  of  illness.  Together,  the  youthful 
students  have  explored  the  sacred  page,  and  bent  at  the 
footstool  of  mercy.  They  have  confided  to  each  other 
their  varied  exercises  of  mind,  their  spiritual  anxieties, 
discouragements,  perplexities,  temptations,  hopes,  and 
consolations.  The  stronger  has  borne  the  infirmities  of 
the  weak ;  the  vigorous  has  encouraged  the  timid ;  and 
the  circumspect  has  cautioned  the  unwary.  Such  a 
friendship  will  outlive  a  mere  school  connexion ;  such 
friends  will  not  be  unmindful  of  each  other,  however 
widely  circumstances  may  separate  them.  Sweet  inter- 
course will  occasionally  be  maintained ;  mutual  sym- 
pathy will  be  exercised ;  and  the  delightful  recollections 
of  childish  attachment  will  be  interwoven  with  glorious 
anticipations  of  the  full  maturity  and  unbroken  duration 
of  friendship  in  the  skies. 

Not  unconnected  with  this  subject  is  that  of  letter- 
writing,  on  which  I  venture  a  passing  remark  or  two. 
Some  girls  discover  an  utter  repugnance  to  letter-wri- 
ting. I  have  known  even  a  few  lines  to  an  affectionate 
parent  regarded  as  a  formidable  task,  put  off  from  day 
to  day  ;  and  at  last  encountered  with  a  sort  of  vacancy 
and  terror.  "  0,  dear  !  what  shall  I  do  ?  I  must  write 
this  letter :  What  shall  I  say  1  Do  tell  me  something  to 
say  in  my  letter. "  Perhaps  my  young  friends  can 
scarcely  give  me  credit  when  I  affirm,  that  such  a  diffi- 
culty has  been  made  of  such  a  trifle.     I  can  only  assure 


LETTER- WRITIN  G, 


213 


them,  that  in  the  days  of  my  childhood,  I  have  often 
heard  such  pitiful  lamentations.  I  have  even  seen  tears 
blotting  the  preparatory  sketch  on  the  slate ;  and  have 
often  known  a  dozen  pins,  a  yard  of  riband,  or  even 
a  queen  cake,  bartered  for  a  sentence  of  a  letter.  But  I 
hope  such  doings  are  obsolete,  and  that  my  young  friends 
now-a-days  find  no  difficulty  in  expressing  the  feelings 
of  their  heart  to  those  they  love.  Should,  however,  any 
traces  of  this  kind  of  reluctance  remain  in  the  young 
folks  of  the  present  generation,  I  would  recommend  them 
not  to  suffer  the  growth  of  a  habit,  which,  whatever  spe- 
cious form  it  may  assume  of  modesty  and  self-diffidence, 
originates  in  pride  and  indolence.  Do  not  regard  the 
writing  of  a  letter  as  an  occasion  for  the  display  of  your 
cleverness,  or  for  the  exposure  of  your  deficiencies,  but 
simply  as  a  duty  to  be  performed ;  and  you  will  soon  go 
about  it  as  easily  us  you  would  tie  your  frock,  or  mend 
your  stockings  ;  but  if  you  now  suffer  yourself  to  regard 
the  writing  of  a  letter  as  a  formidable  affair,  it  will  pro- 
bably remain  so  through  life,  and  you  will  often  be  ex- 
posed to  inconvenience  and  disgrace.  The  great  thing 
to  make  letter-writing  easy  and  agreeable  is  to  cul- 
tivate simplicity.  Make  no  attempt  at  finery.  Just  say 
what  you  may  have  to  say,  and  close.  Your  letter,  how- 
ever short,  will  be  long  enough.  You  will  perhaps 
smile,  and  think  I  am  easily  pleased,  if  I  copy  a  letter 
with  which  I  was  very  much  gratified,  and  which  led  me 
to  conclude  that  the  little  writer  would  never  be  likely  to 
consider  letter- writing  a  burden.  You  will  suppose  it 
was  from  a  very  little  girl.  It  is  written  in  printing  let- 
ters, the  words  divided  by  a  cross. 

"  Dear  +  mother  +  I  +  hope  +  you  -f  are  +  weN 
+  I  +  got  +  here  +  safe  +  Aunt  +  is  +  well  + 1  + 


214  THE    GIRL'S  BOOK. 

want  +  a  +  night-gown  +  Mr.  B.+  has  +  asked  -f  me 
+  to  +  go  +  to  +  Weymouth  +  Mrs.  B.-f  has  +  got 
-J- a  +  pretty  +  baby  -f-  named  +  James  +  Mrs.  B.  -f- 
has  +  got  -r  seven  +  more  +  children  +  at  +  home 
-f  Mr.  B.  +  is  +  a  +  preacher  +  I  +  hope  +  the  + 
kitten  +  has  +  been  +  fed  +  I  +  shall  +  be  +  glad 
to  +  see  +  you  -f- 1  -j-  am  +  your  +  dutiful  +  daugh- 
ter." 

However  simple,  the  real  expression  of  wants,  feel- 
ings, and  sentiments,  is  the  essence  of  good  letter-wri- 
ting; all  beyond  is  as  empty  and  valueless  as  a  soap 
bubble. 

Some  young  ladies,  I  am  apt  to  think,  need  an  oppo- 
site caution.  They  are  too  fond  of  letter-writing,  they 
devote  far  too  much  time  to  it,  and  write  without  real 
occasion.  The  mere  circumstance  of  an  opportunity  of 
sending  is  enough  to  call  forth  a  sheet  full  of  flimsy  sen- 
timent, crossed  and  crossed  again.  I  am  afraid  these 
letters  often  contain  high-flown  and  unnecessary  profes- 
sions of  regard,  and  regret  at  absence,  which  subsequent 
coolness  and  forgetfulness  painfully  contradict.  I  cannot 
help  even  suspecting  that  where  young  persons  are  accus- 
tomed to  communicate  on  religious  subjects,  there  may  be 
a  dangerof  their  expressing  rather  more  than  is  reallyfelt 
I  am  far  from  accusing  any  young  correspondent  of  de- 
liberate hypocrisy,  but  would  suggest  a  word  of  caution, 
lest  when  a  letter  must  be  decently  filled,  and  religious 
subjects  must  be  decently  alluded  to,  there  may  not  be  a 
danger  of  saying  things  as  a  matter  of  course,  rather  than 
of  genuine  feeling  and  sincere  inquiry.  Those  who  know 
most  of  the  devices  of  Satan,  and  the  treachery  of  the 
human  heart,  will  be  least  disposed  to  accuse  me  of  un- 
charitableness  in  this.  Shall  I  add  one  word  more? 
All  apologies  for  "  haste,"  "  want  of  time,"  "  scrawls," 


EDUCATION    AT    HOME.  215 

or  "  scribbles,"  at  the  close  of  a  four  or  seven-sided  epis- 
tle, and  all  "  entreaties  that  the  letter  may  not  be  shown," 
seem  to  me  deviations  from  the  simplicity  of  friendship 
that  imparts  a  real  transcript  of  the  writer's  mind,  to  that 
of  a  friend,  and  overlooks  every  other  consideration.  I 
have  seen  such  apologies  and  such  requests  at  the  close 
of  a  letter,  evidently  written  with  the  most  studied  pomp 
of  diction,  and  in  which,  if  it  had  not  been  shown,  the 
writer  would  have  lost  her  reward.  I  have  also  noticed 
some  letters  which  were  full  of  dashes,  under  almost 
every  third  word  :  surely  such  emphatic  young  ladies 
deserve  an  emphatic  censure. 

Some  of  my  young  friends,  probably,  are  pursuing 
their  education  at  home,  under  the  direction  of  a  private 
governess.  I  cannot  close  without  a  hint  to  them. 
Much  has  been  said  on  both  sides  of  the  question,  whe- 
ther an  education  conducted  at  home  or  at  school  is  pre- 
ferable. The  point  is  not  easily  decided  :  and  whatever 
preference  may  be  felt,  persons  are  not  always  in  cir- 
cumstances to  follow  them.  Perhaps  it  is  not  of  half  so 
much  importance  which  mode  of  education  is  adopted, 
as  that  the  individual  to  whom  the  charge  is  entrusted  be 
really  qualified  for  the  important  task,  and  that  her  en- 
deavours be  steadily  and  conscientiously  seconded  by 
the  parents,  and  acquiesced  in  and  approved  by  the  pu- 
pil. As  to  the  two  former  particulars,  it  may  fairly  be 
concluded  that  your  parents  discharge  their  duty  ;  that 
they  have  selected  a  lady  worthy  of  their  confidence ; 
that  they  cherish  and  manifest  to  her  that  respect  which 
is  essential  to  maintain  her  comfort  and  authority  in  the 
family ;  and  that  they  consult  and  co-operate  with  her  in 
all  her  plans  and  designs  for  your  good.  Your  governess, 
it  is  taken  for  granted,  is  one  who  lives  in  the  fear  of  God 


216  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

in  a  sense  of  her  own  responsibility,  and  duly  appreci- 
ating the  immense  importance  of  your  intellectual  cul- 
ture, moral  correctness,  and  immortal  interests,  above 
the  mere  tinsel  of  superficial  accomplishments.  It  re- 
mains, my  dear  young  friends,  that  you  be  conscien- 
tiously concerned  to  discharge  your  own  duties,  and  im- 
prove your  advantages. 

In  the  first  place,  cherish  a  most  affectionate  and  res- 
pectful regard  for  your  governess.  Look  upon  her  as 
the  friend  of  your  parents,  and  your  benefactor  and  friend. 
Receive  her  instructions  with  docility  and  gratitude,  and 
never  indulge  a  thought  of  murmuring  at  her  require- 
ments, or  seeking  of  your  parents  a  dispensation,  or  of 
appealing  to  them  from  her  censures.  It  is  impossible 
that  you  should  be  benefitted  by  the  labours  of  one  of 
whom  you  entertain  low  and  disparaging  views.  I  re- 
collect hearing  a  lively  girl  say,  "  I  always  look  upon 
the  governess  as  a  sort  of  upper  servant,  who  had  au- 
thority to  keep  me  in  order  (if  she  could)  when  my  pa- 
rents were  out  of  the  way  ;  but  who,  in  their  presence, 
had  no  authority  at  all ;  and  whenever  I  had  any  unplea- 
sant task  to  perform,  or  wanted  to  get  a  holiday,  or  es- 
cape a  punishment,  it  was  only  to  get  on  the  blind  side 
of  papa  or  mamma."  The  governess  thus  disparaging- 
ly treated  was  a  most  excellent  lady,  and  often  wept  over 
the  impossibility  of  succeeding  in  her  important  engage- 
ment while  thus  cruelly  thwarted.  The  parents,  in  this 
instance,  were  at  least  as  much  to  blame  as  the  pupil ; 
but  wherever  the  blame  rested,  the  pupil  was  ruined. 

Among  your  peculiar  advantages,  which  I  hope  you 
will  appreciate  and  improve,  is  the  constant  society  of 
your  governess,  and  the  opportunity  of  more  direct  per- 
sonal instruction  and  explanation  than  is  usually  enjoyed 


CONDUCT    TO    A    GOVERNESS.  217 

in  schools.  You  can,  therefore,  learn  things  very  tho- 
roughly ;  mention  your  difficulties,  and  have  them  solved, 
and  clear  every  step  as  you  go.  You  will  also  have  op- 
portunities of  instructive  miscellaneous  conversation ; 
which,  if  you  duly  improve  them,  will  be  truly  valuable. 
I  know  not  any  exercise  more  improving  than  that  of 
conversation  with  a  judicious,  experienced,  and  pious 
friend.  Such  is  your  privilege  "  when  you  sit  in  the 
house,  and  when  you  walk  by  the  way ;  when  you  lie 
down,  and  when  you  rise  up." 

But  as  every  situation  has  its  distinguishing  advanta- 
ges, so  there  will  be  found  some  privations  and  disad- 
vantages. You  have  not  the  stimulus  of  emulation  and 
example  in  your  pursuits.  You  must  therefore  espe- 
cially guard  against  sluggishness  and  inertness ;  culti- 
vate habits  of  application  in  every  good  pursuit,  set  your 
standard  of  attainment  high,  and  do  not  rest  satisfied  in 
falling  short  of  it.  You  have  not  the  trials  of  temper 
and  firmness  which  attend  a  school  life,  where  there  is 
intercourse  with  many  young  persons  of  different  dispo- 
sitions. Be  the  more  careful  to  act  upon  established 
principle.  Let  not  your  outward  freedom  from  passion 
or  envy  arise  merely  from  the  absence  of  temptation  to 
do  wrong.  Watch  yourself  very  closely,  and  you  will, 
perhaps,  detect  yourself  in  snappish  manners,  or  petu- 
lant tones  towards  a  servant,  a  little  brother  or  sister,  or 
perhaps  even  an  irrational  or  inanimate  thing.  Let  this 
convince  you  that  you  have  the  seeds  of  evil  in  your 
heart,  which  only  require  occasion  to  call  them  forth,  and 
on  account  of  which  you  ought  deeply  to  humble  your- 
self before  God  —  "that  stupid  girl!"'  "this  provoking 
dog !"  "  this  tiresome  work !"  or  "  this  good-for-nothing 
pen !"  or  any  such  exclamation,  abundantly  proves  that 
19 


218  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

if  placed  in  the  society  of  your  equals,  you  have  enough 
peevishness  and  irritability  to  stir  up  a  quarrel. 

As  the  attention  of  your  governess  and  your  parents 
is  concentrated  on  you,  there  is  a  great  danger  of  your 
indulging  feelings  of  pride,  conceit,  and  self-importance, 
which  will  prove  a  bar  to  improvement,  and  render  you 
disagreeable  and  ridiculous  when  you  go  into  society. 
Nor  is  this  all :  those  feelings  are  exceedingly  criminal 
in  the  sight  of  God,  and  as  such,  I  trust  you  will  guard 
against  them,  and  continually  pray  for  humility  and  low- 
liness of  mind.  • 

While  you  cultivate  your  opportunities  for  general 
improvement,  never  forget  your  immortal  interests. 
These  excite  the  most  lively  concern  in  the  minds  of 
your  pious  parents  and  instructers.  They  are  continu- 
ally seeking,  and  may  you  be  taught  to  seek,  the  guid- 
ance of  the  Father  of  lights,  from  whom  cometh  every 
good  and  perfect  gift.  Outward  accomplishments  can- 
not compensate  for  perverseness  of  temper  and  corrup- 
tion of  heart.  These  excite  in  your  friends  far  more 
concern  and  apprehension  than  mere  awkwardness  or 
bashfulness ;  and  whatever  may  be  your  attainments, 
your  friends  cannot  be  satisfied,  nor  ought  you,  without 
the  possession  of  "the  one  thing  needful." 

I  have  a  memorandum  to  guard  you  against  the  spe- 
cious semblance  of  virtues.  There  is  nothing  more 
common  than  to  mistake  a  proud,  lofty,  and  rebellious 
spirit  for  magnanimity,  and  affectation  or  timidity,  for 
gentleness  and  sensibility.  In  these  particulars,  guard 
my  young  friends,  against  deceiving  yourselves,  or  at- 
tempting to  impose  on  others.  Think  not  that  there  is 
any  thing  like  true  greatness  in  spurning  at  little  obliga- 
tions, in  scorning  inferiours,  in  lavishing  property,  in  re- 


SEMBLANCE    OF    VIRTUES.  219 

senting  injuries,  or  in  spurning  control.  These  things 
are  often  apologized  for  with,  "  She  is  a  noble,  high- 
spirited  girl.  Her  faults  are  those  of  a  great  mind."  No 
such  thing ;  they  are  the  faults  of  a  little  grovelling  mind, 
concentred  in  itself,  and  regardless  of  the  claims  of  oth- 
ers. Magnanimity  consists  in  the  exercise  of  great  and 
noble  principles,  and  habitually  applying  them,  even  to 
the  little  enjoyments  and  trials  of  every-day  life.  The 
great  mind  dares  aspire  to  the  glories  and  bliss  of  eter- 
nity, but  it  dares  not  disregard  the  smallest  duty  that 
the  word  of  God  enjoins,  or  that  the  claims  of  fellow- 
creatures  require.  Magnanimity  is  perfectly  compatible 
with  meekness,  though  often  by  mistake  set  in  opposi- 
tion to  it.  Indeed,  it  will  generally  be  found  that  those 
who  are  the  most  punctual  and  unassuming  in  the  dis- 
charge of  the  humble  duties  of  life,  those  who  most  un- 
repiningly  bear  pain,  privation,  and  provocation,  when 
brought  into  circumstances  that  call  for  extraordinary 
exertion,  will  discover  energy  of  mind,  boldness  of  en- 
terprise, fortitude,  constancy  and  perseverance  in  devi- 
sing, adapting,  and  executing  noble  and  suitable  de- 
signs ;  while  false  greatness,  in  the  time  of  difficulty  and 
danger,  proves  but  empty  bluster  and  real  imbecility : 


stillest  streams 


Oft  water  fairest  meadows  ■  and  the  bird 
That  flutters  least,  is  longest  on  the  wing." 

In  these  particulars,  females  have  not  unfrequently 
been  found  to  equal,  if  not  to  surpass,  men.  Who  that 
reads  the  life  of  Lady  Russel,  or  that  of  Mrs.  Judson, 
can  doubt  whether  magnanimity  be  a  female  attainment? 
Yet  in  making  this  remark,  let  me  remind  my  young 
friends  that  greatness  is  not  attained  in  attempting  to  be 


220  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

great  or  singular,  but  in  carefully  storing  our  minds  with 
whatever  may  expand  and  purify  them ;   gathering  our 
principles  from  the  only  correct  and  elevated  standard 
—  the  word  of  God  ;  habitually  acting  upon  these  princi- 
ples, and  maintaining  a  steady  course  of  self-control  and 
self-discipline ;  filling  well  the  circle  assigned  us,  how- 
ever small,  and  venturing  forth  at  the  clear  call  of  duty, 
and  in  dependence  on  the  strength  of  God,  to  the  most 
difficult  and  arduous  undertakings.     Daniel's  magna- 
nimity was  discovered  in  his  abstinence  from  the  luxu- 
rious dainties  of  a  heathen  court,  as  well  as  in  his  daring 
to  meet  a  group  of  hungry  lions.     In  both  instances,  his 
magnanimity  was  sustained  by  faith  and  guided  by  duty. 
Sensibility  and  gentleness  are  still  more  commonly 
classed  among  feminine  virtues,  and  not  less  frequently 
assumed  by  some  spurious  semblance.     "  Sensibility,!' 
it  has  been  justly  observed,  "  is  a  word  in  the  mouth  of 
every  one,  and  a  quality  which  every  one  affects  to  pos- 
sess ;  but  it  is  often  mistaken  and  abused,  and  employed 
as  a  cover  to  capricious  humours,  and  sometimes  to  the 
gratification  of  selfish  passions."      I  really  have  not  pa- 
tience to  hear  of  the  "  extreme  sensibility"  of  those  who 
discover  it  only  by  screaming  at  the  sight  of  an  innocent 
spider  or  frog,  while  they  caress  a  spiteful  monkey,  or  a 
mischievous  lap-dog  —  by  fainting  at  the  sight  of  blood, 
and  turning  away  from  distress  which  they  might  relieve, 
lest  the  sight  should  "  hurt  their  feelings  "  —  by  pouting 
and  whimpering  at  the  slightest  failure  of  attention  which 
they  imagine  due  to  their  dear  insignificant  selves,  and 
by  weeping  at  fictitious  distress,  while  they  are  callous 
and  indifferent  to  the  scenes  of  real  misery  around  them. 
This  is  not  sensibility,  but  detestable  affectation;  that, 
as  it  has  been  well  expressed,  which  prompted  a  se,nti- 


PRESENCE    OF    MIND.  221 

mental  writer  "  to  weep  over  a  dead  ass,  and  suffer  a 
living  mother  to  perish  for  want ;"  but  it  will  always  be 
found  that  the  shadow  is  courted  just  in  proportion  as  the 
real  substance  is  wanting.     Genuine  sensibility,  indeed, 
imparts  gentleness  of  manners  ;  but  not  affected  lisping 
softness,  not  artificial  courtesy,  which  speaks  fair,  and  bids 
welcome,  where  real  dislike  is  felt,  and  contemptuous  ridi- 
cule indulged  to  the  absent.    It  may  be  given  as  a  never- 
failing  characteristic,  that  affectation  is  always  selfish, 
sensibility  always  generous  and  diffusive  ;  it  goes  out  of 
itself  for  its  object  and  its  aliment ;  it  is  native  feeling, 
heightened  and  improved  by  principle  ;  it  is  founded  on 
a  sense  of  our  own  dependence,  weakness,  wants,  and 
failings,  and  of  the  relations  and  claims  of  others  ;  it  ex- 
cites a  generous  sympathy  in  the  sorrows  and  pleasures 
of  others.     There  is  sweet  sensibility  manifested  in  the 
smile  of  a  patient  sufferer,  on  witnessing  others  enjoying 
pleasures  of  which  she  cannot  partake  ;  and  in  that  tear 
for  the  wants  or  miseries  of  others,  which  is  deemed  no 
unwelcome  intruder  on  the  fulness  of  personal  bliss. 
Sensibility  imparts  a  delicacy  of  feeling  with  respect  to 
others  ;  it  will  influence  the  manner  of  conferring  or  re- 
ceiving a  favour,  or  administering  a  reproof;  it  will  sup- 
press even  the  slightest  alluaon  that  might  inflict  unne- 
cessary pain,  any  officious  and  indelicate  prying  into  the 
affairs  of  others,  any  request  that  must  necessarily,  in 
the  circumstances  of  the  case,  inflict  the  pain  of  a  refu- 
sal ;  it  will  never  irritate,  but  soothe,  and,  if  possible, 
relieve ;  it  will  powerfully  influence  to  the  proper  dis- 
charge of  every  relative  and  social  duty,  and  give  ex- 
quisite delight  in  the  performance. 

There  was  a  pretty  little  ditty  set  to  music,  which  was  a 
19* 


222  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

great  favourite  in  my  young  days.    I  hope  it  has  not  gone 
quite  out  of  fashion :  it  is  this,  — 

Said  a  Smile  to  a  Tear 

On  the  cheek  of  my  dear, 
As  it  beam'd  like  the  sun  in  spring  weather, 

"  In  sooth,  lovely  Tear, 

It  strange  does  appear, 
That  we  should  be  both  here  together." 

"  I  came  from  the  heart, 

A  soft  balm  to  impart 
To  yonder  sad  daughter  of  grief;" 

"  And  I,"  said  the  Smile, 

"  That  heart  to  beguile, 
Since  you  gave  the  poor  mourner  relief." 

"  O  then,"  said  the  Tear. 

"  Sweet  Smile  it  is  clear 
We  are  twins,  and  soft  Pity  our  mother  ; 

And  how  lovely  that  face 

"Which  together  we  grace, 
For  the  wo  or  the  bliss  of  another !" 

A  hint  not  altogether  unconnected  with  the  foregoing, 
is  to  recommend  to  my  young  friends  the  cultivation  of  a 
habit  of  presence  of  mind.  There  are  many  emergencies 
daily  occurring  in  which  thp  preservation  of  life  may  be 
suspended  on  such  an  attainment :  and  females,  perhaps, 
are  more  frequently  called  to  its  exercise  than  men. 
Accustom  yourselves  to  exercise  common  sense  ;  attend 
to,  and  recollect,  or  persevere  in  writing,  any  useful  ex- 
pedient, suggested  by  persons  of  skill  and  experience; 
as  opportunity  offers,  familiarize  yourself  with  scenes  of 
suffering  and  distress  ;  observe  what  is  done  by  others  ; 
inquire  into  the  reasons  of  their  conduct ;  convince  your- 
self that  it  is  rational  and  suitable ;  and  thus  store  your- 


HOLY   SCRIPTURES.  223 

self  with  the  capacity  for  usefulness  when  occasion  may- 
require .  In  case  of  fire,  for  want  of  presence  of  mind 
many  lives  have  often  been  sacrificed  by  the  neglect  of 
proper  means,  and  some  have  been  lost  through  terror ; 
while  by  calm  self-possession,  promptitude,  and  energy, 
some  females,  instead  of  being  helpless  burdens,  have 
been  successfully  employed  in  contriving  and  effecting 
the  rescue  of  persons  and  property.  Once  more,  I  re- 
peat, true  feminine  gentleness  is  distinct  from,  and  op- 
posed to  affected  softness  and  timidity. 

Let  me  earnestly  recommend  to  my  dear  young  friends 
to  cultivate  suitable  love  and  reverence  for  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  Be  not  content  to  read  the  Bible  as  a  task- 
book.  Indeed,  I  regret  when  it  is  thus  employed, — I 
mean  when  children,  who  are  just  beginning  to  put  syl- 
lables together,  are  compelled  to  spell  out  the  words  of 
Holy  Scripture,  before  they  can  understand  its  sacred 
and  delightful  import ;  especially  when  the  committing  a 
portion  of  Scripture  to  memory  is  inflicted  by  way  of  a 
punishment.  I  would  much  rather,  (perhaps  I  may  pre- 
sume to  say  that  such  has  been  my  practice,  which  I  have 
not  seen  reason  to  regret,)  read  or  repeat  to  a  little  child 
some  simple  touching  story  of  Scripture,  and  make  it  fa- 
miliar with  its  sacred  truths,  quite  apart  from  the  me- 
chanical exercise  of  reading;  and  stimulate  and  encour- 
age attention,  diligence,  and  perseverance  in  that  pursuit, 
by  the  promise  of  being  permitted,  as  a  reward,  to  read 
for  itself  that  most  delightful  of  all  books.  But  I  am  now 
addressing  young  people  of  an  ago  to  whom  these  re- 
marks do  not  exactly  apply.  You  have  long  since  been 
accustomed  to  read  the  Bible  with  ease  and  propriety ; 
in  all  probability,  you  daily  read  a  portion  in  your  school 
exercises  ;  and  read,  or  hear  a  portion  at  family  worship ; 


224  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

but  be  not  content  with  this.  Accustom  yourselves 
daily  to  read  a  portion  alone,  for  the  purposes,  of  self-ex- 
amination and  devotion.  I  would  farther  suggest  the 
desirableness  of  getting  a  collected  and  comprehensive 
view  of  its  sacred  contents.  Study  alike,  and  with  self- 
application,  its  doctrines,  precepts,  and  promises.  Be 
correctly  familiar  with  history,  prophecy,  and  fulfilment. 
In  this  interesting  study,  you  may  avail  yourself  of  many 
valuable  helps ;  and  never  forget  the  petition,  "  Open 
thou  mine  eyes,  that  I  may  behold  wondrous  things  out 
of  thy  law!" 

I  would  farther  recommend  you  to  familiarize  your- 
self with  the  leading  evidences  of  Christianity.  There 
may  be  a  time  when  you  will  find  it  very  desirable  to 
"  know  the  certainty  of  those  things  in  which  you  have 
been  instructed,  either  to  repel  the  sophistry  of  a  scoffer, 
or  to  satisfy  and  tranquillize  your  own  mind.  I  do  not 
wish  to  prompt  you  to  disputation  or  display  ;  but  I  think 
it  highly  important,  not  only  that  you  should  receive  the 
truth  in  the  love  of  it,  but  that  your  minds  should  be  tho- 
roughly established  in  the  present  truth.  You  have  pro- 
bably met  with  a  well-authenticated  anecdote  of  the 
celebrated  skeptic,  Hume,  and  you  may  recollect  it  with 
advantage  when  perusing  some  passages  of  his  History 
of  England.  The  infidel  philosopher  was  dining  at  the 
house  of  an  intimate  friend.  After  dinner,  the  ladies 
withdrew,  and  in  the  course  of  conversation,  Hume  made 
some  assertion,  which  caused  a  gentleman  present  to 
observe  to  him,  "  If  you  can  advance  such  sentiments  as 
those,  you  certainly  are,  what  the  world  gives  you  credit 
for  being,  an  infidel."  A  little  girl  whom  the  philoso- 
pher had  often  noticed,  and  with  whom  he  had  become 
a  favourite,  by  bringing  her  little  presents  of  fruit  and 


RELIGIOUS     IMPRESSIONS.  225 

sweetmeats,  happened  to  be  playing  in  the  room  un- 
noticed. She,  however,  listened  to  the  conversation, 
and  on  hearing  the  above  expression,  left  the  room,  went 
to  her  mother,  and  eagerly  asked,  "  Mamma,  what  is  an 
infidel]"  "  An  infidel!  my  dear,"  replied  her  mother; 
"  why  should  you  ask  me  such  a  question  I  an  infidel  is 
so  awful  a  character,  that  I  scarcely  know  how  to  answer 
you."  "  Oh,  do  tell  me,  mamma,"  returned  the  child ; 
"I  want  to  know  what  an  infidel  is."  Struck  with  her 
eagerness,  her  mother  at  length  replied,  "  An  infidel  is 
one  who  believes  there  is  no  God,  no  heaven,  no  hell,  no 
hereafter."  Some  days  afterwards,  Hume  again  visited 
the  house  of  his  friend.  On  being  introduced  to  the 
parlour,  he  found  no  one  there  but  his  favourite  little  girl. 
He  went  to  her,  and  attempted  to  take  her  up  in  his  arms, 
and  kiss  her,  as  he  had  been  accustomed  to  do ;  but  the 
child  shrunk  with  horror  from  his  touch.  "  My  dear," 
said  he,  "  what  is  the  matter  ?  do  I  hurt  you  V*  "  No," 
she  replied,  "  you  do  not  hurt  me,  but  I  cannot  kiss  you, 
—  I  cannot  play  with  you."  "  Why  not,  my  dear  Vy 
"  Because  you  are  an  infidel."  "  An  infidel!  what  is 
that?"  "  One  who  believes  that  there  is  no  God,  no 
heaven,  no  hell,  no  hereafter."  "  And  are  you  not  then 
very  sorry  for  me,  my  dear?"  asked  the  astonished  phi- 
losopher. "  Yes,  indeed,  I  am  very  sorry,"  returned  the 
child  with  solemnity,  "  and  pray  to  God  for  you."  "  Do 
you,  indeed,  and  what  do  you  say  V'     "  I  say,  0  God, 

teach  this  man  that  thou  art ."     What  a  striking 

evidence  of  the  intrinsic  power  of  Divine  truth!  and  what 
a  beautiful  illustration  of  the  words  of  Scripture,  "  Out 
of  the  mouths  of  babes  and  sucklings  thou  hast  ordain- 
ed strength,  that  thou  mightest  still  the  enemy  and  the 
stranger  ?" 


*4%  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

But  my  dear  young  friends,  I  must  add  one  word 
more  on  the  subject  to  which  I  have  alluded  :  I  have  re- 
commended to  you  an  acquaintance  with  the  evidences 
of  Scripture ;  remember  they  involve  the  authority  of 
Scripture  too.  It  is  not  enough  that  you  speculatively 
believe  that  the  Bible  is  true  ;  you  must  yield  your  soul 
to  its  control  and  guidance.  That  was  very  correct 
reasoning  of  the  Jewish  priests  and  scribes,  when  Jesus 
appealed  to  them  whether  the  baptism  of  John  was  from 
heaven  or  of  men  —  they  "  reasoned  with  themselves, 
saying,  if  we  shall  say,  from  heaven,  he  will  say,  Why 
did  ye  not  then  believe  him  2"  There  is  no  warding  off  the 
self-application  of  our  own  admissions.  If  you  believe 
the  Bible  to  be  true,  then  you  are  by  nature  in  the  wretch- 
ed, ruined  condition  which  it  describes  ;  you  have  broken 
the  law  of  God,  and  are  under  its  condemnation,  and 
there  is  no  way  of  salvation  for  you,  but  in  Jesus  Christ, 
whom  God  hath  set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation  for  our 
sins.  But,  my  dear  young  friends,  do  ;you  lay  these 
things  to  heart]  Have  you  ever  trembled  on  account  of 
your  condition  before  God  1  Is  the  burden  of  your  sins 
grievous  and  distressing  to  you?  and  have  you  "  fled  for 
refuge  to  lay  hold  on  the  hope  set  before  you  in  the  gos- 
pel?" You  are  told,  in  Scripture,  that  your  hearts  are  de- 
ceitful and  depraved,  incapable  of  thinking  a  good 
thought,  or  suggesting  a  good  action.  If  you  believe 
this  testimony,  do  you  earnestly  seek  the  influences  of 
the  Holy  spirit,  to  whom  you  are  directed  as  the  source 
of  every  good  gift,  for  renovation,  cleansing,  strength  and 
grace  1  In  Scripture,  you  are  taught  to  take  a  very  diffe- 
rent view  of  the  world  from  that  which  worldly  men  en- 
tertain ;  you  are  told  that  it  is  empty,  unsatisfactory,  pol- 
luted, and  transient ;  that  it  can  never  give  satisfaction 


RELIGIOUS    IMPRESSIONS, 


227 


and  happiness  to  an  immortal  mind  ;  and  that  it  would 
"  profit  you  nothing  if  you  should  gain  the  whole  world, 
and  lose  your  own  soul."  If  this  testimony  is  believed, 
has  it  so  operated  upon  you  as  to  wean  you  from  the  vain 
pleasures  and  pursuits  of  the  world,  and  to  lead  you  to 
aspire  after  spiritual,  substantial,  and  everlasting  joys  1  If 
you  have  read  the  Bible,  and  believe  it  to  be,  as  it  is  in 
deed  and  in  truth,  the  word  of  God,  your  own  conscience 
must  admit  that  these  effects  ought  to  be  produced,  —  and 
will,  and  must  be  produced,  or  your  knowledge  of  the 
Bible  will  only  add  to  your  condemnation.  Let  me  en- 
treat you,  my  beloved  young  friends,  do  not  stifle  religi- 
ous convictions  ;  truths  may  be  presented  to  you  which 
would  give  you  uneasiness  and  alarm  on  account  of  your 
past  course,  and  which  would  disturb  you  in  your  present 
frivolity  and  gayety ;  yet  do  not  reject  the  faithful  moni- 
tor. Remember  the  profane  and  dissolute  monarch, 
who,  when  the  threatenings  of  God  against  sin  were  read 
before  him,  snatched  the  roll  from  the  hands  of  the  reader, 
cut  it  up  with  his  penknife,  and  threw  it  into  the  fire  :  but 
did  this  alter  the  fact,  that  the  threatenings  were  gone 
forth  1  or  did  it  bring  peace  to  his  guilty  conscience  ?  No 
such  thing,  —  the  awful  threatenings  were  confirmed  and 
enlarged  :  the  prophet  was  commanded  to  take  another 
roll,  and  write  in  it  all  the  words  of  the  former,  "  and 
there  were  added,  besides,  unto  them  many  like  words," 
all  of  which,  not  long  after,  met  their  accomplishment, 
Jer.  xxxvi.  "  He  that  being  often  reproved,  hardeneth 
his  neck,  shall  suddenly  be  destroyed,  and  that  without 
remedy." 

But  there  is  a  more  specious  danger,  against  which  I 
must  warn  you.  Do  not  delay  attention  to  those  things 
which  your  conscience  tells  you  claim  your  attention. 


228  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

Think  not,  "  I  am  but  young,  it  is  time  enough  to  think 
about  serious  things  ;  a  few  years  hence  it  would  not 
seem  so  hard  to  give  up  pleasure  for  religion  ;  I  am  quite 
sensible  of  the  importance  of  religion,  and  fully  intend  to 
give  my  mind  to  it;  but  not  just  yet."  Ah,  my  dear 
young  friends,  this  is  a  most  grievous  self-delusion.  If 
the  safety  of  your  immortal  soul  depends  on  your  sub- 
mission to  Christ,  how  can  you  venture  to  delay  for  years, 
or  months,  when  you  have  no  security  for  living  a  single 
day  1  Most  probably  you  recollect  the  death  of  some 
relative,  or  friend,  as  young  as  yourself;  if  not,  go  ex- 
amine the  tomb-stones,  and  you  will  not  have  long  to 
seek  for  a  memorial  of  your  own  date.  Now  realize  the 
thought,  "  If  that  young  person  gave  herself  up  to  God, 
she  is  now  forever  safe  and  happy,  and  has  never  once 
repented  that  she  became  religious  too  early  ;  but  if  she 
delayed  to  do  it,  calculating  on  long  life,  she  deceived 
herself,  she  ruined  her  own  soul,  and  will  forever  bewail 
the  consequences  of  her  procrastinating  folly."  I  know 
it  is  painful  to  make  any  thing  like  a  personal  applica- 
tion, but  it  is  too  easy  to  ward  off  the  edge  of  general 
truth.  It  will  be  safe  and  wise,  however  painful,  to  make 
a  still  closer  application,  and  say,  "  /  must  embrace  the 
salvation  of  the  gospel,  now,  this  day,  this  hour,  or  else 
I  have  no  security  that  I  shall  not  to-morrow  lift  up  my 
eyes  in  the  world  of  wo. 

But  the  shortness  and  uncertainty  of  life  is  not  the  only 
argument  by  which  to  press  your  immediate  attention  to 
the  concerns  of  your  soul ;  there  is  a  fearful  danger  of 
the  heart  becoming  hardened  by  procrastination.  Felix, 
the  Roman  judge,  was  once  the  subject  of  strong  con- 
victions ;  he  trembled  under  the  same  solemn  truths  that 
are  continually  addressed  to  you.     Oh,  had  he  yielded 


DO    NOT    PROCRASTINATE.  229 

to  the  salutary  impression,  and  exercised  repentance  to- 
wards God,  and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  how  al- 
tered would  have  been  his  future  course  through  life,  and 
how  blessed  his  prospects  for  eternity !  But  —  he  "  put 
off  for  the  present "  that  of  which  he  saw  the  importance. 
He  said,  "  Go  thy  way  for  this  time,  and  when  I  have  a 
convenient  season  I  will  call  for  thee  ;  "  but,  as  far  as  we 
know,  the  "  convenient  season  "  never  came  ;  he  never 
trembled  again ;  he  inquired  no  more  concerning  the 
faith  of  Christ :  but  when  he  afterwards  came  in  contact 
with  the  faithful  apostle,  was  intent  only  on  balancing  the 
probabilities  of  gain  from  the  enemies  of  the  apostle  for 
detaining  him,  or  endeavouring  to  obtain  money  from  the 
friends  of  the  apostle  for  releasing  him.  Many,  many 
affecting  instances  are  on  record  of  persons  who,  in  the 
days  of  their  youth,  were  the  subjects  of  religious  impres- 
sions, but  delayed  attending  to  the  things  that  belonged 
to  their  everlasting  peace,  and  so  remained  through  life 
callous  and  insensible. 

I  must  allude  to  another  mistake  of  the  procrastinator 
who  acts  under  the  infatuation  of  the  father  of  lies.  Why 
do  you  wish  to  delay  1  Is  religion  a  good  thing  to  be 
enjoyed,  or  an  evil  thing  to  be  endured?  If  the  former, 
can  you  begin  too  soon  to  be  happy  1  But  the  plea  al- 
leged for  delay  intimates  that  the  latter  is  your  opinion. 
You  think  it  is  too  soon  to  abandon  pleasure,  and  begin 
a  life  of  gloom.  Now  if  you  appeal  to  every  truly  and 
consistently  religious  person  in  the  world,  all  will  con- 
cur in  saying,  that  you  are  under  a  great  mistake  : 

"  Religion  never  was  designed 
To  make  our  pleasures  less  j  " 

"  her  ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness,  and  all  her  paths 
20 


230  THE    GIRL'S    BOOK. 

are  peace ;  "  and  true  religion  is  as  necessary  to  our 
real  enjoyment  of  the  pleasures  of  life,  as  it  is  to  our 
safety  in  death,  and  happiness  in  eternity.  A  life  of  re- 
ligion, is  heaven  begun  upon  earth.  Every  day,  there- 
fore, that  you  delay  to  become  truly  and  decidedly  reli- 
gious, even  supposing  that  you  become  so  at  last,  you 
cut  off  from  your  existence  a  day  of  true  pleasure. 

One  word  more.  Do  not  rest  in  your  religious  im- 
pressions. You  have,  perhaps,  been  the  subject  of  anxie- 
ty and  dread  on  account  of  your  sins ;  your  mind  has 
been  solemnized  by  some  event  in  Providence  ;  by  an 
alarming  fit  of  sickness,  or  the  death  of  a  relative,  or  a 
companion.  You  have  been  impressed  under  some 
rousing  sermon,  or  melted  under  a  description  of  the 
Saviour's  sufferings  and  love.  This  is  indeed  to  be 
reckoned  a  great  mercy  :  but  then  the  danger  is,  lest  you 
should  rest  here  ;  lest  those  tears,  and  terrors,  and  reso- 
lutions, should  be  the  only  evidences  on  which  you  ven- 
ture to  conclude  on  the  safety  of  your  immortal  state. 
What  is  your  present  condition  I  Are  you  living  a  life  of 
faith  in  the  Son  of  God  1  a  life  of  daily  repentance  and 
resistance  against  sin  ?  a  life  of  holy  communion  with 
God  in  prayer,  and  of  dependence  on  the  influences  of 
the  Holy  spirit  ?  If  not,  whatever  may  have  been  your 
impressions,  you  are  not  warranted  in  resting  upon  them 
as  an  evidence  that  you  are  in  a  safe  state,  or  that  you 
are  advancing  towards  a  saving  conversion.  Do  not 
deceive  yourselves  by  relying  on  any  thing  short  of  this, 
that  you  are  made  new  creatures  in  Christ  Jesus.  Yet 
let  me  not  say  a  word  to  discourage  any  dear  young 
friend  whose  heart  is  tender,  whose  desires  are  sincere 
towards  God,  yet  who  scarcely  dares  venture  to  hope 
that  a  good  work  is  begun  in  her  heart.     The  very  fear 


DO    NOT    REST    IN    IMPRESSIONS.  231 

is  an  evidence  of  sincerity,  and  the  earnest  desire  after 
grace  is  an  evidence  of  its  possession.  My  object  has 
been  to  warn  against  resting  in  a  half  religion,  which  is 
but  a  delusion  :  but  you,  my  dear  young  friends,  would 
not  be  satisfied  with  a  half  religion.  You  do  not  desire 
to  get  off  with  as  little  as  possible  ;  your  earnest  desire 
is  to  be  entirely  and  forever  devoted  to  the  Lord,  body, 
soul,  and  spirit ;  and  your  great  fear,  that  you  are  too 
unworthy  to  be  accepted,  too  sinful  to  be  made  holy,  too 
weak  to  maintain  the  Christian  walk  and  warfare  ;  and 
you  justly  might  fear,  if  you  had  to  depend  on  your- 
selves ;  but  you  are  encouraged  to  come  in  the  name  of 
the  beloved  Son  of  God,  who  has  promised  not  to  cast 
out  any  who  come,  however  weak  and  guilty.  True, 
your  hearts  are  not  worthy  the  Divine  acceptance ;  but 
here  is  the  command  —  "  My  son,  my  daughter,  give  me 
thine  heart ;  "  this  command  is  your  warrant  and  assur- 
ance, that,  however  unworthy,  you  will  be  accepted.  The 
condescending  Saviour  loves  those  who  love  him  ;  and 
those  who  seek  him  early  shall  find  him.  However 
weak  and  feeble,  he  has  an  infinite  fulness  to  supply  all 
your  need  ;  his  Spirit  will  help  your  infirmities  ;  and  his 
word  assures  you  that  He  who  has  begun  a  good  work 
within  you,  will  perform  it  unto  the  day  of  Christ  Jesus. 
If  you  indulge  a  hope  that  this  good  work  is  began  in 
you,  I  hope  you  will  be  concerned  and  careful  to  mani- 
fest its  effects  on  your  temper  and  conduct.  Perhaps 
some  of  your  young  companions  do  not  love  religion,  and 
may  be  inclined  to  mock  and  persecute  you  ;  at  any  rate 
they  will  very  severely  scrutinize  your  conduct ;  they  will 
expect  to  see  a  difference  in  your  behaviour,  since  they 
hear  from  you  a  profession  that  they  do  not  make  ;  and 
if  your  conduct  is  not  consistent  and  circumspect,  they 


232  THE     GIRL'S     BOOK. 

will  be  very  likely  to  think  ill  of  the  religion  you  profess. 
Shall  I  mention  the  effect  of  inconsistency  in  a  professor 
of  religion,  on  my  own  mind,  when  a  very  little  girl?  — 
One  young  lady  at  school  used  to  talk  more  than  the  rest 
about  religion;  she  would  repeat  long  passages  of  ser- 
mons, kneel  down  and  pray  with  her  school-fellows,  and 
answer  questions  in  such  a  manner  as  no  one  else  did. 
She  was  frequently  singing  hymns,  generally  from  the 
volume  entitled  "  Olney  Hymns  ;"  with  several  of  these 
I  was  greatly  delighted,  and  learned  them  by  heart ;  and 
as  to  the  young  lady  herself,  I  regarded  her  with  rever- 
ence, as  a  paragon  of  excellence  and  piety.  But,  after 
a  time,  it  was  proved  that  this  girl  was  artful,  and  in  many 
respects  guilty  of  very  unworthy  conduct.  This  was  a 
great  shock  to  many  of  us  ;  for  my  own  part,  I  foolishly 
thought,  not  that  her  profession  of  religion  was  insincere, 
but  that  she  had  been  taught  a  bad  religion  ;  I  was  really 
afraid  of  recollecting  the  hymns  she  used  to  sing  and  re- 
peat, and  grew  up  with  a  prejudice  against  that  book,  and 
several  others  in  her  possession,  which  I  have  since  found 
to  be  truly  excellent  and  valuable.  See,  then,  my  dear 
young  friends,  that  your  conduct  never  gives  occasion  to 
those  who  observe  you,  to  take  a  prejudice  against  your 
books,  or  ministers,  or  religious  profession  ;  but  rather, 
may  they,  taking  knowledge  of  you  that  you  have  been 
with  Jesus,  and  beholding  your  consistent  and  conscien- 
tious conduct,  be  led  to  glorify  your  Father  who  is  in  hea- 
ven, and  to  say,  "  We  will  go  with  you,  for  we  perceive 
that  God  is  with  you."  Should  you  be  persecuted,  and 
the  "  cruel  mockings  "  and  "  scourge  of  the  tongue  "  are 
a  species  of  persecution,  as  well  as  prisons  and  racks, 
and  are  very  painful  to  be  borne,  —  many  pious  children 
have  endured  them  from  quarters  little  suspected  —  well, 


EDUCATION    FINISHED.  233 

be  it  so  :  think  it  not  strange,  nor  be  discouraged  from 
pursuing  what  you  see  to  be  your  duty :  be  not  provoked 
to  resent  any  unkindness  or  injury  ;  bear  reproach  and 
contempt  with  silent  meekness,  remembering  that  here- 
unto ye  are  called,  "  because  Christ  also  suffered  for  us, 
leaving  us  an  example  that  ye  should  follow  his  steps ; 
who  did  no  sin,  neither  was  guile  found  in  his  mouth ; 
who,  when  he  was  reviled,  reviled  not  again ;  when  he 
suffered,  he  threatened  not,  but  committed  himself  to 
Him  that  judgeth  righteously."  "  And  in  meekness  in- 
struct those  that  oppose  themselves,  if,  peradventure, 
God  will  give  them  repentance  to  the  acknowledging  of 
the  truth."     1  Pet.  ii.  21,  22.     2  Tim.  ii.  25. 

Addressing  young  persons  who  are  religiously  in- 
structed and  piously  disposed,  I  would  earnestly  recom- 
mend them  to  engage  with  cordiality,  zeal,  and  diligence, 
in  the  work  of  Sunday-school  instruction,  as  a  means 
which  have  been  eminently  blessed  to  the  promotion  of 
personal  piety,  and  a  line  of  usefulness  especially  suited 
to  the  talents,  energies,  and  opportunities  of  the  young. 
I  cannot  doubt,  if  you  sincerely  engage  in  this  good  work, 
that  your  own  estimate  and  experience  of  religion  will  be 
greatly  advanced,  that  your  benevolence  will  be  expand- 
ed and  elevated,  that  some  instances  of  usefulness  will 
cheer  your  persevering  labours,  and  that  at  last  they  will 
be  crowned  by  results  glorious  and  extensive  beyond 
your  highest  calculation.  Nor  will  your  attention  be 
confined  to  one  line  of  usefulness ;  Bible,  and  Mission- 
ary, and  Tract  Associations  will  claim  a  portion  of  your 
time  and  resources  ;  and  when  you  think  of  the  immense 
reward  connected  with  being  the  instrument  of  turning  a 
sinner  from  the  error  of  his  ways,  —  and  the  feebleness 
of  the  means,  which,  under  the   Divine  blessing,  are 


234  THE    GIRL'S     BOOK. 

often  rendered  successful,  you  will  naturally  wish  so  to 
economize  your  time  and  property,  as  to  have  somewhat 
to  spare  for  every  holy  cause.  Young  people  well  edu- 
cated, and  well  disposed,  are  generally  willing  enough  to 
engage  in  these  things  ;  but  there  is  too  frequently  cause 
for  lamentation,  that  their  minds  are  fickle,  and  their 
zeal  short-lived;  that  when  the  excitement  of  novelty  and  a 
popular  address  has  past  by,  there  is  not  steady  principle 
to  sustain  the  noiseless  labour  of  perseverance,  and  to 
bear  up  against  the  discouragements  arising  from  ingra- 
titude, indifference,  and  apparent  want  of  success.  A 
word  of  caution  against  this  fickleness  will  not  be  im- 
proper here.  I  know  of  nothing  so  likely  to  form  a  se- 
curity for  your  steady  perseverance  and  zeal,  as  the  cul- 
tivation of  Christian  principles.  Endeavour  to  have 
your  own  heart  thoroughly  imbued  with  a  sense  of  the 
value  of  the  soul,  the  importance  of  salvation,  your  own 
obligations  to  the  Saviour,  and  the  claims  of  a  perishing 
world  on  your  compassion  and  aid ;  keep  these  prin- 
ciples constantly  in  view,  and  your  zeal  will  be  untiring. 
You  will  not  be  weary  in  well-doing,  and  in  due  season 
you  will  reap,  if  you  faint  not. 

And  now,  my  beloved  young  friends,  in  bringing  my 
book  to  a  close,  let  me  ask  when  are  you  to  finish  your 
education  1  —  Next  Midsummer  1  or  next  Christmas  ?  I 
hope  not !  the  labours  of  your  instructers  will  have  done 
much  if  they  have  set  your  minds  inquiring  after  know- 
ledge, established  your  steps  in  the  right  direction,  and 
furnished  you  with  a  reference  to  the  sources  of  farther 
information.  They  never  intended  "  to  finish  your  edu- 
cation :"  that  is  to  be  the  work  of  your  whole  life.  Every 
day  some  new  lesson  will  be  set  before  you,  or  some 
old  one  called  to  your  remembrance  ;  you  will  still  have 


EDUCATION    FINISHED.  235 

to  endure  restraints,  and  to  undergo  discipline.  Happy 
if  you  have  wisdom  and  docility  still  to  feel  yourselves 
young  beginners,  constantly  to  look  up  for  direction  to 
your  Heavenly  Teacher;  submissively  to  follow  his 
guidance,  and  to  acquiesce  in  his  will.  The  best  evi- 
dence of  real  improvement  will  be  a  deeper  sense  of  your 
own  ignorance,  and  an  entire  dependence  on  the  grace 
of  Christ.  Thus  you  will  go  on  from  one  step  of  hea- 
venly wisdom  to  another,  and  your  education  will  be 
finished  only  when  you  drop  the  veil  of  mortality,  and  in 
the  light  of  heavenly  glory,  "  see  as  you  are  seen,  and 
know  as  you  are  known." 


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